Getting kids motivated for adventures isn’t always an easy task. But with my personal experience of navigating parenthood and traveling throughout the US—and globally—with my kids, I’ve learned some tips and tricks to help get my kids excited to overcome challenging things.
I mean, my kids have done some pretty incredible things. They kayak, they hike, they ski. We do a ton of really fun family activities. And there are a few things that really motivate them to get involved with whatever we are doing.
Food Surprises
The first thing that I like to do to boost my kid's motivation is pack a food surprise. Food surprises are lollipops, muffins, or just something that my kids don’t have on a daily basis—something they really enjoy.
My kids are definitely food and candy motivated. We try our best to be a healthy family most of the time. And not eat candy on a daily basis. So when we are doing these harder adventures—like taking the kids kayaking or for a longer hike—I’ll usually pack a special treat that’s unusual for them to receive.
You might have hard moments out on an adventure where the kids feel demotivated. They could also just simply be tired. And that sugar boost from the special treat comes in real handy, motivating them to keep on going.
Now when we’re out on an adventure, my kids will usually ask me, “Did you bring any food surprises?”. And it really lightens their mood when I pull something out of my backpack.
Rewards
Another way I like to motivate my children is by having a reward that they work toward. So for my kids, for example, if they want to have screen time, then they have to earn it by doing activities outside or physical exercise. The amount of time they spend outdoors is the amount of time they then get to have on their screen.
If there is something that your kids really like doing—like going to the trampoline park—use it as motivation to get them outside, overcoming challenges.
Donate and Give Back
My third trick for motivating your kids is to have them give back. My son, Tucker, signed up to walk a certain amount of miles a month. And however many miles he walked, I was donating money to a non-profit to match.
In the end, family and friends started donating money too. And the money Tucker was making started multiplying, which inevitably then made him want to walk even more.
I think he ended up initially doing roughly 31 miles a month. Then he realized how much money he could actually make. His mileage soon doubled to 60 miles a month. And it was really exciting for him to know he was making a difference.
There are a lot of different charities out there. So find something your kid cares about, whether it's an animal conversation or a child elsewhere, to sponsor. And encourage your kids to do outdoor activities to raise money for their chosen charity.
Tucker chose to raise money to cover school fees and medical bills for a kid in Uganda. But Tucker's now done even more and raises money for other children in the community.
I really found that giving back is a great motivating factor for kids. And it also teaches them the importance of doing something kind.
Motivating Kids: Conclusion
Whether it's food, treats, a toy, an experience, or an act of giving back, find what motivates your kid and use it to your advantage. Before you know it, they’re actually having fun doing outdoor activities. And they won’t even need extra motivation to get going.
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