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Subject:
Kid motivation tips wanted!
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Matara
Joined: 06/08/07
Outdoorzy Explorer
Fort St. John, BC
Posts: 12
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Posted: 01/10/08 1:59pm |
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I am trying to get my children more interested in the outdoors and outdoor sports. My oldest son (14) really likes kayaking, but my youngest is hard to get motivated to try new things...or anything it seems like!!! I would love some ideas about how to make the outdoors and sports fun for them..any ideas appreciated!!
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Wade
Joined: 07/23/06
Outdoorzy Original
Bowling Green, KY
Posts: 826
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Fundyguy25
Joined: 08/30/07
Outdoorzy Explorer
Sussex Corner, NB
Posts: 31
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Posted: 01/11/08 9:48am |
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I used to be a Scout leader and I hate to say it...but not all kids like the outdoors. I used to battle with this when doing up trip plans all the time. Often times I started slow with lots of encouragement and positive reinforcement. For some one step up a mountain is a huge accomplishment (a bit of an exageration, but you get the point.) After some smaller outings, I then challenged them. Kids don't like being told they can't do something. This way the outings got longer and more challenging. Take note to when your out what each child's strengths and weaknesses are. Be sure that if he enjoys starting a fire, he gets to start the fire, if he struggles with knots, he isn't asked to tie up the kayaks.
I am no expert but I have a child of my own and like I said I was a Scout leader for 6 years, so I do have some practice.
Good luck and I hope I helped a little.
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Matara
Joined: 06/08/07
Outdoorzy Explorer
Fort St. John, BC
Posts: 12
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Posted: 01/13/08 12:09pm |
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That is a great article/blog! Thanks for linking me up!
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Matara
Joined: 06/08/07
Outdoorzy Explorer
Fort St. John, BC
Posts: 12
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Posted: 01/13/08 12:12pm |
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My kids like being in the outdoors, playing or walking but when I say "hiking" on an easy well defined trail, my youngest defines that as "work". I like your idea about doing things they like or want to do. In your experiences, what were some of the things kids liked after they tried it the first time? I.E. The first time they tried rock climbing, or canoeing a lot of kids really enjoyed it and wanted to do more.
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gonzobeer
Joined: 02/08/07
Outdoorzy Maniac
Louisville, KY
Posts: 243
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Posted: 01/13/08 1:35pm |
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My kids like being in the outdoors, playing or walking but when I say "hiking" on an easy well defined trail, my youngest defines that as "work".
Well, I can think of an easy way to help that out. Take them outside to do something, throw a frisbee, walk the dog, etc. And just take them on an easy trail for a 'walk' At the end ask him how he enjoyed the hike....or some other way to show that hiking is fun. But some kids won't take to it that easy. I know my nephew didn't like 'Hiking' for the same reason. He didn't quite understand what it was about, He thought he was being forced to do something instead of just enjoying the beauty that's around.
But! I took him climbing at the gym once.....and he loved it! So the first time I took him to the Red I told him we were going climbing. Which we were, but I intentionaly took a longer approach and used the word 'hike' alot, 'Man, that was a bit of a hike eh?'
Turns out he started loving hiking, by first hiking to do something he knew he liked. And out of that he learned a love of the hike, not just the climbing at the end.
Kinda like, finish your vegtables and you can have a piece of cake. 
Licentia Haud Vestigium
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Matara
Joined: 06/08/07
Outdoorzy Explorer
Fort St. John, BC
Posts: 12
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Posted: 01/13/08 3:06pm |
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Thanks Gonzobeer! That is a great idea! Just out of curiousity, how long did it take for your nephew to like hiking?
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gonzobeer
Joined: 02/08/07
Outdoorzy Maniac
Louisville, KY
Posts: 243
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Posted: 01/13/08 9:13pm |
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A few climbing trips.... when he started having fun on the approaches I took him for hikes around the walls...showing him flora and fauna and cool stuff. Eventually he just took off into the woods to see what he could find.
Licentia Haud Vestigium
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Fundyguy25
Joined: 08/30/07
Outdoorzy Explorer
Sussex Corner, NB
Posts: 31
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Posted: 01/14/08 6:46am |
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I have always found teenagers like to take risks and to them this is fun. Rock climbing, is always one activity they seem to enjoy. So to is canoeing or kayaking.
When hiking, don't make it about the hike, make it about the activity at the end of the hike. Here where I am there are some awesome swimming holes, and kids love to swim, especially on a hot day, so I used to hike them into these great falls and kettles. By the end of the day they didn't even realize they hiked 11km. Fishing is also a great way to get you kids hiking. I have walked Scouts down a river while carrying a pole, of course they get to fish, but they are also out hiking as well. This can work just as well by hiking into a lake.
Hope this helps.
Slow down and enjoy the view
Fundy Guy
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Matara
Joined: 06/08/07
Outdoorzy Explorer
Fort St. John, BC
Posts: 12
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Posted: 01/14/08 8:42pm |
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I will try that. I think I might wait for summer to do hikes as well. I don't know that they will enjoy it very much right now. Although, I am happy to say, my youngest and most stubborn went skiing yesterday and liked it..that is something!!
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