Many parents have no idea where there even is a trail. They wonder how to keep their kids properly dressed for the wilds and how they’ll ever carry their infant all those miles. They struggle to figure out how much water and food to bring. They ponder what to do when their children get bored on the trail or start to misbehave. They know there must be a better way to cross rough terrain than the balancing act they’re attempting. They want to understand how to treat injuries from blisters to broken bones, of what to do if they’re lost or even forced to stay the night in the woods.

A new guidebook – Rob Bignell’s “Hikes with Tykes: A Practical Guide to Day Hiking with Kids” – offers the answers to these and many other questions.

In this comprehensive survey of an increasingly popular family activity, Bignell offers readers a no-nonsense, informative guide to taking children on day hikes. An Outdoor Industry Association report from 2010 says that 40 million Americans hike. Many of those hikers bring their children with them.

During these difficult economic times, many Americans have turned back to this low-cost, fun activity – and are sticking with it.

“Hiking is beneficial in so many ways, from providing exercise to enjoying the natural beauty of the outdoors,” Bignell said. “It’s not surprising that there are so many hikers, or that children love to go on walks.”

Most people can find the gear they need for a day hike simply by gathering together a few odds and ends from around their home. And with more than 200,000 miles of trails in the United States – at county, state and national parks as well as other nature areas – no one need travel far to enjoy the great outdoors.

Loaded with personal anecdotes and tips, “Hikes with Tykes” provides a step-by-step guide to everything an adult needs to know about hiking with children, including how to:

 Find kid-appropriate trails

 Keep kids properly dressed for the wilds

 Figure out how much water and food to bring

 Cross rough terrain

 Prevent children from getting bored on the trail

 Treat injuries from blisters to broken bones

 Handle getting lost or being forced to stay the night in the woods

A long-time hiker, editor and journalist, Bignell is uniquely qualified to discuss hiking with children. He and his son Kieran go on day hikes about twice a week. Bignell took Kieran on his first hike when he was but four-months-old, through an old grove of redwood trees that soared 150 feet over their heads. Since then, they’ve peakbagged mountains, rambled along ocean coastlines, searched fossil and gem trails, and explored desert canyons, often all in the same month.

Before Kieran, Bignell served as an infantryman in the Army National Guard and taught middle school students in New Mexico and Wisconsin. His newspaper work has won several journalism awards, from editorial writing to sports reporting. In 2001, The Prescott Journal, which he served as managing editor of, was named Wisconsin’s Weekly Newspaper of the Year.

Bignell now lives with his son in Southern California.

“Hikes with Tykes” is available for purchase online at http://hikeswithtykes.com/home.html.

Book specs:

 Publish date: July 19, 2011

 Publisher: Atiswinic Press

 ISBN: 978-0-615-51220-4

 Price: $13.99

 Pages: 232

 Cover: Paperback

 Trim Size: 5.5 x 8.5

 Website: http://hikeswithtykes.com/home.html

Hiking Vogel State Park

posts on weekends and at night but most of that time I reserve for my two little boys. They are very young – one and three – but that doesn’t mean I don’t get them outside as often as possible. I can’t hike Mt. Whitney or Half Dome with the little ones yet, but I can do some nice one and two mile hikes. I put the one year old in the baby hiking pack and let the three year old walk. The three year old usually does well, but I often carry him the last half mile or so.

Getting kids outside early is important because they’ll learn more about nature while playing as children than anyone will ever be able to teach them later in life from a book. Simple things like looking for good sticks can lead to great adventures for little ones. These adventures increase their love of the trail naturally and I hope will make them good citizens and protectors of the places we love.

So, if you don’t see a post for a while don’t worry because I’m probably spending what little free time I have outdoors with my family.

Take a kid hiking and camping and you’ll create positive memories they’ll never forget.

In order to keep your kids healthy and happy in the elements, they’ll need appropriate gear and clothing for trips spent in the outdoors.  Here are 5 things to consider when hiking with kids:

1. How are you protecting your kids from the sun?  Consider buying clothing  with built-in sunscreen that lasts far longer than regular sunscreen. 
2. It’s a probable your kids have grown since last summer.  Don’t clear your  calendar and pack your car only to discover your kids’ hiking shoes are worn out or  don’t fit anymore.  Comfort is key!
3. It’s time to spoil yourself.  Don’t let a scenic hike become dreadful and exhausting with a heavy child carrier.  There are many baby carriers that are  both comfortable and ecofriendly.
4. For trips that require families to pack food, bring insulated, water-resistant  fabric lunch sacks.  Along with spill-proof water bottles, these are designed to  handle the wear and tear of hiking and keep both trails and shirts clean.
5. Engage your kids with interactive hiking tool kits.  Designed to get them – and  keep them – excited throughout your hike, this is a great way to avoid hearing  the dreadful question: “are we there yet?”

Play Outdoors is the only store in Oregon that is all about kids’ outdoor clothing and gear.  They also offer products online for all kinds of outdoor activities for kids – hiking, camping, cycling, and climbing, as well as winter sports.

Hiking With Kids – A Checklist Before You Go

Hiking with your children can be great experience for all of you, but it can also be miserable if you don’t prepare well. Stave off grouchy kids with this checklist:Choose the trail carefully. Not all trails are appropriate for all ages, or all kids. A flat three-mile hike may be challenging but fun for your best friend’s six-year-old and too much for yours. Guidebooks will often provide some idea of a trail’s difficulty level, and park rangers are also a great source of information.

Bring extra water. Dehydrated children are grouchy children, and dehydration can be dangerous. Kids have a tendency to spill their water bottles, so be sure you have backups and remind them to drink water regularly.

Bring healthy snacks. Hungry children are also grouchy children, and kids (and adults) may not be able to make it all the way to lunch without food. Healthy snacks like dried fruit, granola bars, apples, little wax-wrapped cheeses and nuts will help keep kids going without complaint until lunchtime.

Make sure their boots are broken in. Blisters are a major cause of misery and whining on hiking trips. Ideally, your kid’s shoes or boots should be broken in before you leave. Tying boot laces either too loosely or too tightly can cause blisters, so ask the clerk at the outdoor store how to tie the laces when you buy the boots.

Prepare for the weather. Weather can be unpredictable, so bring rain gear, sweaters, hats and sunscreen. You don’t want cold or sunburned kids.

Don’t forget the First Aid kit. Despite your best efforts, blisters, scrapes, and bug bites will inevitably happen. A small First Aid kit with items like moleskin, athletic tape, antibacterial ointment, bug bite lotion, band-aids and tweezers will help you deal with most problems.

Know what to do in an emergency. Find out before you leave: will your cell phone work? How close is the nearest ranger station if you’re hiking in a park? What should you do if your child has a severe allergic reaction? Talk to your child’s doctor if your child has special medical concerns.

Hiking with your kids can create unforgettable memories for everyone. Make sure those memories are the good kind of “unforgettable” and prepare well.

Melissa Barton is a freelance writer and editor, specializing in science and travel writing. Her credits include Geotimes, Transitions Abroad, Student Health 101 and other publications. Visit her online at Rosetta Stones Freelancing