Will a deer be your totem animal?

Once you’ve completed your first hike, pat yourself on the back. You’ve done a lot of work but have taken the first step into a larger world for both you and your children.

To keep kid’s enthusiasm charged, “review” the hike in kid-friendly ways. While you really can’t do this with infants, most toddlers and older kids will enjoy it. One post-hike game/activity you might consider is Totem Animal.

On a trail where you’ll see a lot of different wildlife, pick a random number. Have each child count each time they see an animal. When they reach the pre-selected number, they’ve met their totem animal (or the emblem that represents them).

Once back home, encourage your children to look up information about their totem animal or to create a shield or a flag with their totem animal on it.

Materials: Paper, colors or markers

Ages: 4-12

Learn about more than a hundred other hiking diversions for kids in Hikes with Tykes: Games and Activities.

By Rob Bignell

Author Rob Bignell is an avid hiker, long-time editor, and former infantry grunt. He's scaled summits almost two miles high, crossed America’s driest deserts, and walked beneath trees soaring 15 stories over his head. Now he shares his hiking experiences with you to ensure you and your family enjoy the perfect day hike through his various hiking guidebook series - "Best Sights to See," "Hittin' the Trail," "Headin' to the Cabin," and "Hikes with Tykes."

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