Why Kids Need Adventure

There’s something about getting children outdoors that changes the pace of things. Away from school, screens, homework and the usual routine, there’s space to explore, talk, get muddy, get tired and discover what they’re capable of.

And while a family adventure might simply feel like a good day - or a few good days - outside, there’s plenty of evidence to suggest that time spent outdoors can be good for children in all sorts of ways.

Confidence grows through doing

There’s a particular sort of confidence that comes from getting somewhere under your own steam. It might be reaching the top of a hill, walking further than you thought you could, navigating a section of the route or simply carrying on when your legs are tired and there’s still another mile to go.

Outdoor adventures give children the chance to try things, make decisions and discover that they can do more than they perhaps expected. Play England highlights the role that challenge, problem-solving and manageable risk can play in building confidence, independence and resilience in children. And earning that all-important sense of achievement at the end!

There’s space to switch off

Children’s lives can be remarkably busy. School. Homework. Clubs. Phones. Games. Messages. Screens. Repeat. Being outdoors provides a natural break from all of that. There’s a path to follow, somewhere to get to and plenty happening around you without anyone needing to provide the entertainment.

It’s well known that spending time in nature has a positive effect on physical and mental wellbeing. Sometimes, simply being somewhere green and having nothing more pressing to do than walk is quite powerful.

It gets children moving - without calling it exercise

Tell a child they’re going for a two-hour workout and you may not get the reaction you were hoping for. Tell them you’re heading along a trail to find a waterfall, climb a hill or reach somewhere brilliant for lunch, and it becomes something completely different.

Walking, climbing, scrambling and exploring all get children moving and it’s all part of the adventure!

Adventure encourages independence

As children get older, they naturally want to do more for themselves - and being outdoors gives them plenty of opportunity. Let them carry their own day pack. Find the next waymarker. Read the map. Decide which direction to take at a junction. Work out how much further there is to go.

These challenges can give children opportunities to make decisions, solve problems, manage risk and develop independence. A little responsibility can turn a walk they're being taken on into an adventure they're part of.

It’s good for family connection

There are surprisingly few times in everyday family life when everyone is together for hours without somewhere else they need to be. Walking creates that time. There might be conversations. There might be long stretches when nobody says very much. There'll probably be discussions about snacks and repeated questions about how much further it is. But you're doing something together.

Those shared miles, wrong turns, viewpoints, picnic stops and tired legs often become the bits everyone remembers.

Adventure doesn't have to be enormous

You don't have to fly halfway around the world or climb a mountain to give children a sense of adventure.

It can be following a path you've never walked before.

Spending the whole day outside.

Carrying your lunch in a backpack.

Reaching the top of a hill.

Staying somewhere different for the night.

Or waking up the next morning and setting off again.

Perhaps one of the nicest things we can teach children is that adventure doesn't have to be complicated. Sometimes you just need somewhere new to explore - and a reason to put your shoes on.

Adventure starts with a step.

READY FOR YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE?

Discover our self-guided family adventures, designed to make getting outdoors together simple.