What is a "tiny hike?"
And why are they perfect for encouraging play?
For those of you new to the newsletter, WELCOME! I’ll start out the newsletter with park updates.
In case you haven’t heard, I have been updating my Playground Map for the past two years. It originally took me 10+ years to build — before the map software company crashed and I unexpectedly had to find a new platform for it.
I have been working to make sure that every map marker leads to a park post that has been updated in either 2022 or 2023. I’m getting close to being done!
Here are a couple of parks that first landed on my blog in 2009 and I recently updated. You can click on the photos to get to the blog post info.
Santiago Park in Santa Ana just re-opened this week after an extensive revitalization project. Thanks to the dedicated Instagram follower for alerting me that it’s mom-approved and telling me about her recent experiences.
I re-visited La Veta Park in Orange based on this recent mom recommendation: “I personally love La Veta playground. It is street parking but it is NEVER crowded. And it is perfect for many kids but especially if you have a 1-3 year old that you may avoid playgrounds with big structures. All my kids enjoy it (7, 4.5, 2) and I have the ease of it being easily accessible for my 24 mo without him needing much help. Also it is a fav summer park as it has great tree shade.”
In the age of Instagram, just a reminder that not all parks on my blog are picture perfect or the latest & greatest. It’s fine because kids don’t need that. This mom’s words are a great reminder not to underestimate the play potential of the neighborhood playground.
I am always trying to explain my playful style of hiking-with-kids. “Tiny hikes” is the first time I’ve been able to put it into words that make sense the moment you read it.
It immediately tells you it’s something that’s:
outside.
not daunting or strenuous.
in or near nature.
short in distance.
manageable or at least worth a try.
a modification of a noun that typically represents as a big endeavor in terms of energy and effort.
bound to have some unexpected sights.
slower pace.
going to feel good & promote wellness.
maybe best suited for a tiny human?
If you take a toddler perspective — a walk from the front door to the car could qualify as a hike!
Have you heard the The Lemonheads song “Rockin Stroll?”
The lyrics go: “People’s knees and trunks of trees smile at me. Looking upward to the sky, moving forward all the time.” It’s a stroller ride, but I often think about this when I think of guiding you to hikes with a much smaller world view.
You should think about it, too. Consider: what is my child experiencing right now? Hopefully, your answer is: “a playful sense of awe & wonder.” That’s what I’m going for here.
And then I think . . . does the word “hike” even fit for this? Or is it a “nature walk” or “ramble” or “wander.”
There is an odd tendency to only rank it as a hike based on the walking surface. Have you ever thought about how absurd that is? If it’s dirt, it’s a hike. If it’s a paved path through a garden, it’s not. What??? Why not???
And why do we even need to justify that it’s a “real” hike? Maybe a hike based on distance and pace and elevation and reaching the summit isn’t a fulfilling experience for your family or child?
No matter what we call it, we’ll take our kids outside to see what we can see. Even if it’s a neighborhood walk on the sidewalk, we will see plants and trees and birds and rocks. Let’s call it a hike if we want. A sidewalk hike. A tiny hike!
Mini trail guide for this week is below for paid subscribers.