Encouraging children to go on walks - any tips?

[halster]

Have just got back from another walk with the kids - as per usual there was much moaning, wingeing, tears, cries of "my legs are tired". We did not go far at all. They are 3 and 6, I understand that the 3 year old will get tired easily, but the 6 year old? I would love to take them on lovely country walks regulary but it is so stressful!! I try to make the walks as interesting as possible. And bribing them doesn't work either.

Do your kids happily go for walks? What is your secret?
My MIL maintains that my dh walked the Pennine Way when he was 4 (carrying his clothes in a rucksack).

I have done the Bishopsgate to Savill Gardens walk hundreds of times (or at least it feels like it).

Geocaching works really well for my children aged 4 and 6. We also don't go on walks - just adventures.
Letting the older one lead works well ( assuming that they know where you are going or you dont care but just want to get out!)
Also tried playing hide and seek along the way back - DS goes with Dady to hide somewhere ahead along the path and DD with Mummy.

Finally, bribery - a bag of buttons/ biscuits for the last few stiles (everytime they count to 20 or get to a particular tree), every time we get over one, I dole some out

Morningpaper - I love the dog idea. Can't wait to try it , I know my dd will love it!!

mvemjsunp - I know what you mean... sometimes I can do it twice a week. Pain how the park rangers keep putting down bark near Bishopsgate, sometimes hard to push buggies through!
Note to anyone doing that walk... Summer of 2008 I think a playground was built, so this walk it can now be extended beyond Savill Gardens to the playground. Lots of good hiding places for children on this walk down Rhododendron Ride.

All this chat about Geocaching has got me interested. Looking on Geocaching.com's Map there seems to be several locations near me.
What equipment is needed? I've got a Nokia E71 phone... is it worth getting Geocache Navigator Nokia Edition? Anyone use that? Does it use a lot of data bandwidth?

Phew. There was me thinking that Bishopsgate (near Liverpool Street station) to Savill Gardens was really a bit much to ask of a small child

Those of you who do a lot of walking, do you have any recommendations for good boots for children? We have good gear for the DCs, but have avoided getting good boots so far because their feet were still growing so fast that they'd be out of them so quickly. But now I'd like to get some, and they are also complaining of cold feet in their wellies in this weather.

firstly, i am SOOOOOO glad its not me - we went to the woods the other day, DD(4) has walked in the woods loads of times, but we abandoned because she started whining that it was too muddy - poor dog. Quite a successful walk on the beach today - however there was talk of "my legs hurt" and a narrowly avoided tantrum because one of the paths was muddy, we averted it with a promise that this path lead to the sweetie shop

Secondly - what is all this geocacheing? in simple terms please - and do i need a GPS thingy, or can we do it with a sat nav?

oh oh oh!!!! there are geocache thingies near where i live, we have no money this weekend, if i have the right equipment my weekend is sorted - please tell me i can do this with a sat nav -pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeassssssssse

We do the doggy thiing with ds too. it is quite cute when he 'pants'. Also, collecting crap treasure like pine cones, etc keeps him going or engaging him in ridiculous conversations or spotting things with binoculars.
Tbh I think the fact he is such a big boy helped. I haven't been able to buggy or carry him since he was about 2, so just nagged him into walking. I don't drive either.

I am planning our geocahcing outing for tomorrow.

We us the satnav to find the parking points and it works OK. We have not tried finding the actual cache with one.The geocaching site has a forum so you could ask on there Ijustwant. Can you put map points into your satnav, we can in ours.

Do you have an i phone?

Geocaching kept is going last year when we were broke, constant freeish entertainment.

Ijustwant there are some that are in more confined places like church grounds, they are not as reliant on a gps.

im sorry to be a detractor here
but no to wanky geocahing
NO to raisins crap

bloody just go and let them get on with it

I have never wanked while geocaching.

Right, I have found 3 within 2 blocks of our flat so I am sending dh out with the boys tomorow as a trial run to find them. No GPS device so they just need to rely on the descriptions. But we are in central London so the address really does pinpoint it quite well.

Here's hoping it works!

prod them with a big stick whilst shouting move you fuckers usually works

tbh ours go gladly if

there is a pub lunch at the end

a park en route

or hot chocolate and a film when we get home

glee.

It's so annoying though when they start whinging within 25 metres of parking the car. Anything to avoid that.

Though not sure about the geocaching. Yet.

I would imagine in the middle of a city it is possible without a gps.

We are in the middle of Dorset and do mainly rural ones.

Let us know how it goes.

I agree with others a definate goal is needed.

We have a dog so DS accepts a daily walk is required for dog (and us). DS goes on bike and me and dog run behind!

I say we all ditch the kids and go on a walk with Morningpaper. Much more fun.

Can I have first dibs on being MP's bitch?

"My feeeet hurt!"
"OH MY GOD. DID YOU HEAR THAT?"
"What mummy?"
"I think it's one of those invisible crocodiles in that bush over there. Thank goodness I bought my invisible lead and collar ... it's somewhere in my handbag, wait a minute..."

etc

how the hours fly by

ooooh Twinset

you are SUCH a good girl yes you are yes you are

you are mummy's good girl aren't you

oh look mummy's found a stick oooh are you excited? ARE YOU EXCITED ARE YOU ARE YOU

ARE YOU READY? ARE YOU READY

Sorry did you say something I was licking my bollocks.

there is a farm near us where you can pay 8 euros a head to accompany the lamas on a 3 hour walk through the woods.

Also, you can take the local dogs home's dogs out for free, in the woods.

I am desparate to get my children walking more - they are such whiners, and moan like anything when I insist on going to the supermarket without the car - its less than a mile!

Twiinseeeeettttt!!!!! Haven't seen you for ages and wondering how you were!!!!!