How Do You Raise an Adventurous Child?

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Before diving into parenthood, my partner and I prided ourselves on being adventurers. It was only natural that we aim to instill this same spirit of exploration in our children.

Embracing adventure while parenting is not merely about injecting excitement into our family life. It’s about paving the way for personal growth and development in our children and ourselves.

We’re teaching resilience, curiosity, and an appreciation for nature by fostering an adventurous spirit. I quickly realized that the thrills of navigating the great outdoors with my children went beyond the pretty views—it was about witnessing the world open up through their eyes.

Adventure parenting has drawn us closer as a family and laid a foundation for a lifetime of exploring with our kids.

But how do you raise an adventurous child, exactly?

Laying the Foundation: Early Exposure

Introducing our little ones to the wonders of the great outdoors early is a cornerstone in nurturing an adventurous spirit within them.

From the rolling hills that invite exploratory hikes to the streams that flow through the woods, each outdoor activity offers a unique canvas for their imagination and curiosity.

In these early exposures, seeds of bravery and a zest for adventure get planted. Whether the simple joy of a local park visit or the challenge of a family hike, these experiences lay the groundwork for a child’s love for nature and exploration.

By engaging them in diverse outdoor activities, we fuel their curiosity and instill in them the invaluable lesson that the world is a vast, beautiful place waiting for discovery.

These early adventures are essential—they are the first steps in raising a trailblazer.

That said, I think it’s also never too late to start.

The Preparation Game

Outdoor adventures with our little explorers can be a spur-of-the-moment decision—if you’ve prepared beforehand. I always keep an adventure bag packed with the essentials so we can grab it, grab some water, and go.

I don’t keep a lot of stuff in there, just the essentials:

• Container with shelf-stable snacks
• First aid kit
• Sunscreen and bug spray

Always being prepared for adventure makes sense when trying to nurture adventurous kids.

I like to have my toddler help me replenish our adventure bag. I get him to help pick out the snacks to put in and ensure the first aid kit has what we need.

I want to go on last-minute adventures without too much work and teach my son that being prepared is important. We talk about how great it is to get out so quickly each time we go because we took the time to prepare.

Winning with Groups

We are fortunate to live near family, so we get out and adventure with my kids’ cousins. Adventuring with friends and family provides so many additional benefits.

It fosters an environment where everyone learns from one another. There’s a kind of magic in watching kids motivating each other to climb a little higher or explore a bit further.

It multiplies the joy we get out of our adventures.

And honestly, having another adult to talk to along the way is invaluable. This is especially true if you don’t work outside the home. Adult interactions can be a precious commodity!

Not only that, watching how other families interact with nature and tackle challenges can give you new ideas. Maybe they have a way of addressing issues you hadn’t considered.

However, the best part of adventuring with other families is that the collective experience deepens your relationships. They say it takes a village, but you can’t have a village without close relationships. Adventure is the perfect way to get that.

Don’t Forget About Your Needs

It’s a good idea to plan adventures that take everyone’s abilities into account. But what if you want more of a challenge?

Surely, a toddler can’t climb a mountain!

Well, maybe they won’t be able to climb a mountain on foot. But if you get a child carrier backpack, they don’t need to.

Climbing a mountain with a small child strapped to you requires more work and strength, but the reward is worth it!

Because if you’re bored with the same old nature walk on the same old trails, you’re likely not going to get out that much.

Also, having your kids see you challenge yourself and overcome that challenge is as valuable to them as exploring the forest floor.

This is how you raise an adventurous child. It teaches resiliency, safe risk-taking, and problem-solving. These traits will serve them well throughout life, not just while adventuring.

I’d even encourage you to do some solo adventuring as well. Your kids will see you taking care of your needs, and that’s a wonderful thing to model to them.

So, yes, plan adventures suited to their capabilities, but don’t forget yourself. That can be a tall order when you’re in the thick of the everyday tasks of taking care of everyone else first.

But if you can reframe it as something you’re doing for them to model how to take care of yourself, it makes it much easier.

Engage and Empower

I’ve found that inviting my toddler into the planning stages of our outdoor adventures has helped him be even more excited to get out and explore. Of course, I get some silly suggestions since he’s still so young.

But I’ve gotten some great suggestions from him, too. Involving him in this process helps me know what adventures he prefers.

I’ve mentioned it before, but I like to make an adventure bucket list where we write down all the adventures we’d like to do.

Because my oldest is so young, I like to do this in the morning so that we can go on an adventure in the afternoon. I find making the list gets him all jazzed up for going out.

The power of giving him a choice can’t be understated. I’ve found that the more choices I give my kids, the more agreeable they tend to be—not just on adventures but in regular day-to-day life.

I also find that he’s more engaged when he can be part of the planning and make choices. He learns essential planning skills, and empowers him.

This sometimes means that our adventures can be messy (playing in the rain and mud are usually on the list), but I try to remind myself that these are the memories he’ll take with him as he grows.

Seek out Challenges

One of my favorite parts of parenting is seeing my kid confront and overcome challenges. He’s always so willing to give something a try.

The more challenges he faces and overcomes, the more confident he grows.

I try to be mindful of the challenges he’ll come across while planning adventures, though. If he comes up against too many challenges that aren’t age-appropriate, it can have the opposite effect. He’ll stop taking on those challenges if he feels he’s constantly failing.

For that reason, it’s important to make sure we strike a balance. It’s ok for kids to fail sometimes (in fact, this is an essential lesson for them, too), but without any wins, they won’t have the confidence to try again.

But seeing my kid’s face light up after accomplishing something difficult is fantastic. And what he gains from that will serve him very well as he gets older and goes out into the world on his own.

Flexibility is Key

Flexibility is something I’ve had to work very hard on. I’m a planner. I like to know what’s happening and how things should go. I struggle to get on board when things don’t go to plan.

Having kids has very much made me confront this issue—not just for adventures, but for life in general.

I’ve found that repetition is key. The more things go wrong, and I have to adapt, the less uncomfortable it becomes.

This doesn’t only apply to things going wrong during our adventures, either. It also means I’m more prepared when the adventure goes differently than expected.

Maybe we find a new trail my kid wants to explore instead of where we’d planned to go, or we get sidetracked by some birds or bugs on our way somewhere.

I try my hardest to let him lead as much as he safely can. Allowing him to explore in whatever direction interests him is what will cultivate an adventurous spirit.

Diversity in Activities

Doing various outdoor activities with my kids keeps their adventurous spirits alight, and it helps them learn a versatile set of skills.

I make introducing them to different environments a priority. Each new place offers new skills for them to learn and challenges to overcome.

This variety ensures that their excitement for the outdoors never wanes.

Because it’s not just about the physical prowess they gain—it’s also about nurturing resilience, adaptability, and a sense of wonder for the world around them. This prepares them for a lifetime of adventure and discovery.

Learning Through Nature

Nature has a way of teaching our children to observe, explore, and be patient. Just about anything in nature can be turned into a lesson.

For instance, bird watching can teach them to be patient and calm—otherwise, the bird may fly away.

Exploring around a forest can mean they find a new plant they’ve never seen before.

Watching my child’s excitement as he develops these skills is the best. And it means he learns these things faster. If he can see it all in action, it sinks in faster than if I’m repeatedly telling him the same thing.

Being out in nature also teaches him to respect the environment. Or, I should say, to maintain his respect for the environment. He’s always seemed to have that and wanted to clean up any garbage we’ve found, even before he could talk much.

So much so that “garbage for Dad” was often said during our adventures as he’d pick up garbage for his father to carry back home.

His eagerness to clean up the trails on our adventures also inspired our family motto—“Leave it better than you found it.”

The Joy of the Journey

I’ve learned so much in my pursuit of cultivating an adventurous spirit in my children. And I’ve become even more adventurous myself.

Despite all the challenges of adventuring with young children, I find myself looking forward to it. It’s a good challenge for me, too.

Ultimately, I find that what I remember most isn’t the destination—it’s what happens on our journey to get there. The laughter, the joy on their faces, the confidence gained.

If you’d like more information on how to get out, check out this post.