8 Games to Play While Taking a Walk

Updated July 24, 2015.

Keep whines away during a hike or walk with kids by playing walking games. These easy activities help children stay interested and engaged when you are taking a family hike or simply walking to school or the playground. They don't require any preparation or props and are great for kicking off conversations with your kiddos too!

1. I Spy: It's no wonder this is a classic travel game, and it works just as well when you are on foot. Make it more challenging by adding rules, such as "natural items only" or "pick something that has a name that shares your initial."

1. When You Hear ... : Pick a trigger sound, such as a car horn's honk or a bird's chirp. Line up in single file and start walking. When you hear the special sound, the first person in the line has to run to the back and become the caboose. Continue until everyone's had a turn to lead the line.
2. Poetry to Go: Take turns creating a poem-on-the-go. Start the kids off with a simple line like "I really love to take a walk" and have them add their own rhymes in turn ("except when I forget my sock" ... "and then I step upon a rock" ... and so on).
3. Interval Training: Depending on your kids' ages and abilities, spice up a walk by challenging them to incorporate different moves, such as running, hopping, skipping, scuttling sideways, etc. What other styles of walking or moving can they come up with?
4. Count Off: Pick something to keep track of, from red cars to dead trees. Make it a contest or collaborate, whichever is more appealing to your crew of walkers.
5. Spelling Bee: Have children challenge each other—and you—to spell words based on what they can see, such as "crow" or "cement" or "caterpillar."

1. 20 Questions: Hide a small object (something from your bag, or that you find along the trail or sidewalk) in your hand and have kids try to figure out what it is.
2. Name That Tune: For younger children, sing the lyrics and stick with songs you're positive kids know. As they get older, make the game more challenging by humming or whistling the tune and picking more obscure songs.