Care and Feeding | Slate's parenting show

Is My Kid Ruining Hikes On Purpose?

Aug 12, 2024

The hosts dive into a listener's dilemma about a four-year-old making family hikes a struggle. They share clever strategies to spark a child's interest in outdoor activities, emphasizing independence and fun. From nature identification to geocaching, practical tips help turn hiking into an enjoyable adventure. They also share lighthearted anecdotes from trips to Tokyo and reflect on parenting challenges, including managing multiple Tamagotchis like tiny, needy infants. Join them for a blend of parenting insights and entertaining stories!

37:57

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Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Establishing clear boundaries and expectations about walking during hikes can effectively reduce whining and encourage children to participate more willingly.

Involving children in planning hikes and making the experience fun through games or peer interactions can transform their attitude towards walking.

Deep dives

Understanding Resistance to Walking

A listener shares their struggles with a four-year-old who refuses to walk during family hikes, indicating the child is capable of walking long distances but prefers to be carried when the father is present. It is suggested that the child might find the opportunity to be carried as a reward for his whining and could be testing boundaries. Establishing clear boundaries away from the situation could help convey the expectation for the child to walk during hikes. For instance, having a discussion when the family is not hiking about the importance of walking and how it relates to enjoying their trips together can foster understanding.

Intro

2min

Encouraging Young Hikers: Strategies for Family Outings

5min

Hiking Adventures with Kids

14min

Tokyo Connections and Parenting Challenges

10min

Navigating the Tamagotchi Challenge

1min

On this episode: Jamilah, Zak, and Elizabeth answer a listener question about a kid who seems dedicated to making family hikes suck. He’s energetic and capable during other activities, but long walks are full of whining and fussing. What could this listener do to get him excited about family walks… and are there any options that aren’t making every walk a treasure hunt?

We also check in on what’s happening in the hosts’ lives right now. And then, on the Slate Plus Playground, we’re sharing a round of recommendations and a round of anti-recommendations.

If you’re not part of the Slate Plus community, we hope you’ll consider joining! Keep reading to learn how.

Jamilah’s check-in: Stiiiiiill hotel living

Elizabeth’s check-in: Internet friends are real friends!

Zak’s check-in: Just hoping the dog won’t poop on the plane

Join us on Facebook and email us at careandfeedingpod@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. You can also call our phone line: (646) 357-9318.

If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get to hang out with us on the Plus Playground every week for a whole additional grab-bag of content — and you’ll get an ad-free experience across the network. And you’ll also be supporting the work we do here on Care and Feeding. Sign up now at slate.com/careplus – or try it out on Apple Podcasts.

Podcast produced by Maura Currie.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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