Think About Where You’re Spending Your Money

The first thing to think about when buying kids’ clothing is where you’re actually spending your money. For us as a family, for example, we were really excited when Cotopaxi came out with a kids' line.

Cotopaxi is a company that I know is making charitable donations to different organizations in order to preserve some of the beautiful places that we like to visit. For this reason—as well as their sustainable practices—I know that the clothing I buy for my kids is making a lesser impact on the environment.

Size Up in Kids’ Clothing

Another thing I like to do when I purchase new clothing for my kids is to size up. I understand that clothing needs to fit kids, especially when you’re out on adventures. But my daughter, for example, can wear a sweatshirt or a jacket that's a little bigger. I just roll up her sleeves, and that way, I know it's going to last her an entire season. Sometimes I’ll even size up two sizes so that way we get two winters out of them.

Choose Companies that are Durable

Another tip is to choose companies that are durable. Often we make decisions to buy things, but that product actually won’t last us more than a few months. One of my son’s biggest problems is the knees wearing out on his pants. So when I’m shopping for clothing for him, I’m looking at brands that I know are going to work for wear and tear. 

Look for clothes that are durable, comfortable and ones that you’ll be able to pass down to younger siblings or cousins. 

How Often Will Your Kids’ Wear Them?

Something else to think about is how often will your kids actually wear the item of clothing. Think about the design of the clothing item and how comfortable it will be when wearing it. You may buy something that’s more sustainable and environmentally friendly. But if your kids aren’t actually going to wear it, then it ultimately isn’t the right choice. 

At the end of the day, the best clothes to buy are the ones you know your kids are going to wear. And remember that the clothing doesn’t even have to be new. Patagonia, for instance, has done a really good job of paving the way for people to reduce, reuse, and repair their clothes. And that’s why I love these outdoor clothing companies. Not only do they produce durable clothing items. But they are showcasing that you can be sustainable and smart about purchasing decisions when it comes to outdoor kids' adventure clothing.

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Don’t forget to check out our YouTube channel, Great Family Adventure, and keep an eye out for more awesome videos we’ll be publishing shortly.

If you enjoyed this article and are hungry for more family adventure tips, tricks, reviews, and adventures, head on over to the Great Family Adventure YouTube channel and feel free to sign up for our Hazeadventure.com newsletter.

Clothing: Cotopaxi Fuego Down Kids’ Jacket, Cotopaxi Teca Cálido Reversible Kids’ Jacket, Cotopaxi Fuego Hooded Down Jacket, Cotopaxi Trico Hybrid Women’s Jacket, Do Good Kids’ Trucker Hat, Teca Half-Zip Windbreaker
Bikes:  E-Bikes Powered by Bosch – Yuba Spicy Curry, Riese & Muller,
Sunglasses: Wiley X

The post Sustainable Kids Clothing Options appeared first on Hazeadventure.

I mean, my kids have done some pretty incredible things. They kayak, they hike, they ski. We do a ton of really fun family activities. And there are a few things that really motivate them to get involved with whatever we are doing.

Food Surprises

The first thing that I like to do to boost my kid's motivation is pack a food surprise. Food surprises are lollipops, muffins, or just something that my kids don’t have on a daily basis—something they really enjoy.

My kids are definitely food and candy motivated. We try our best to be a healthy family most of the time. And not eat candy on a daily basis. So when we are doing these harder adventures—like taking the kids kayaking or for a longer hike—I’ll usually pack a special treat that’s unusual for them to receive.

You might have hard moments out on an adventure where the kids feel demotivated. They could also just simply be tired. And that sugar boost from the special treat comes in real handy, motivating them to keep on going. 

Now when we’re out on an adventure, my kids will usually ask me, “Did you bring any food surprises?”. And it really lightens their mood when I pull something out of my backpack.

Rewards

Another way I like to motivate my children is by having a reward that they work toward. So for my kids, for example, if they want to have screen time, then they have to earn it by doing activities outside or physical exercise. The amount of time they spend outdoors is the amount of time they then get to have on their screen.

If there is something that your kids really like doing—like going to the trampoline park—use it as motivation to get them outside, overcoming challenges. 

Donate and Give Back

My third trick for motivating your kids is to have them give back. My son, Tucker, signed up to walk a certain amount of miles a month. And however many miles he walked, I was donating money to a non-profit to match.

In the end, family and friends started donating money too. And the money Tucker was making started multiplying, which inevitably then made him want to walk even more. 

I think he ended up initially doing roughly 31 miles a month. Then he realized how much money he could actually make. His mileage soon doubled to 60 miles a month. And it was really exciting for him to know he was making a difference. 

There are a lot of different charities out there. So find something your kid cares about, whether it's an animal conversation or a child elsewhere, to sponsor. And encourage your kids to do outdoor activities to raise money for their chosen charity.

Tucker chose to raise money to cover school fees and medical bills for a kid in Uganda. But Tucker's now done even more and raises money for other children in the community. 

I really found that giving back is a great motivating factor for kids. And it also teaches them the importance of doing something kind. 

Motivating Kids: Conclusion

Whether it's food, treats, a toy, an experience, or an act of giving back, find what motivates your kid and use it to your advantage. Before you know it, they’re actually having fun doing outdoor activities. And they won’t even need extra motivation to get going. 

Follow our Adventures and Subscribe

If you enjoyed this article and are hungry for more family adventure tips, tricks, reviews, and adventures, head on over to the Great Family Adventure YouTube channel and feel free to sign up for our Hazeadventure.com newsletter.

Clothing: Cotopaxi Fuego Down Kids’ Jacket, Cotopaxi Teca Cálido Reversible Kids’ Jacket, Cotopaxi Fuego Hooded Down Jacket, Cotopaxi Trico Hybrid Women’s Jacket, Do Good Kids’ Trucker Hat
Food: BeanVivo Three Bean Chili
Camera: GoPro Hero 10 Black
Sunglasses: Wiley X

The post Top 3 Tips to Motivate Kids for Outdoor Fun! appeared first on Hazeadventure.

Set the Scene

First things first, set the scene for getting onto the plane. When we’re traveling, we as adults understand that it’s going to be stressful. You’re slightly out of control, you’re on someone else’s schedule, and you can’t control what the lines will look like. There really are a lot of unknowns. 

We recommend that the second you enter the airport, set your expectations, as it really helps the kids understand. Tell them it's going to be wild and crazy, and explain that things will be more hard and challenging. Also, remember to remind them that it’s okay if things don’t go as you planned because it's not necessarily in your control.

For us, when we fly with our kids, we like to tell them, “All right guys, let’s go see what we’re getting into,” and kind of set the scene for the feel of the day. At the end of the day, we’re just going along for the ride, and we’re going to do the best we can, but it’s going to take some teamwork, and everyone needs to play their part. 

Pack Spare Outfits

When flying with kids, you should always pack a spare change of clothes. For me, I have my mom bag, which has a change of clothes and some different things in it to make sure that if accidents happen, I have the things I need to help make the flight a little easier. 

For example, when we were potty training my daughter Parker, it was really important for me to have a whole second outfit with us when we were flying. Sometimes having to find a bathroom for your kid is very challenging, and accidents do happen. So, by having a spare change of clothes, it doesn’t matter if they don’t quite make it to the toilet. 

Think about some of the things that are really stressful for you, or the things that you’re worried about happening, and ask yourself the question: What can I do to help alleviate some of that stress? 

Drinks or Bubble Gum During Take Off and Landing

When kids are screaming on planes, a lot of the time it’s because of the pressure in their eardrums. There are two tricks you can do to help alleviate the pressure in your kids' ears. 

Adults do the fake yawn or popping of the jaw to see if we can ease the pressure, but for babies, instead, have a bottle on hand (or try and time breastfeeding for take-off/during descent when the pressure really changes). For my older kids, I would give them something that I knew they’d be really excited to drink. For example, my kids don’t drink a lot of juice, but if I put it in a bottle, they are going to pound it during takeoff and landing. So that's one trick that you can use when flying with kids.

As kids get older and they’re no longer drinking out of a bottle, then chewing bubble gum does the same thing. I always keep bubble gum in my bag and hand it out throughout the flight to prevent the pressure from building up in their ears. 

Have Entertainment on Hand

One other thing I like to bring with me is a surprise toy, magazine, or activity book that the kids weren’t anticipating. You can say to them, “If we get all the way to our seats on the plane and everyone’s behaving, I may have a little surprise for you.” Sometimes, that’s what I do with my kids, and usually, it's something that I know is going to keep them engaged for a while. 

Another way is downloading a learning app on an Ipad if they do have screens. I’ll go ahead and download one without the kids knowing, so when we get onto the plane, I’ll say, “Hey, I downloaded this game for you guys to try,” and it usually ends with them being engaged for hours. 

To recap, some of the things I like to take on the plane with me are:

• Bottles for little ones
• A change of clothes for parents and children
• Bubble gum
• Baby wipes (I can’t say enough about baby wipes in general as they’re great for cleaning up)
• A surprise app
• An activity book
• A toy or something that is going to grab their attention.

Flying With Kids: Conclusion

Traveling can be stressful, and if you’re bringing that stress into the adventure with the kid, then they’re going to absorb it, even if you’re not communicating it to them. Do everything you can when engaging with your kid to make sure that the whole experience is as positive as possible, even if sometimes it means lying to yourself.

Packs:  Cotopaxi Dimi 12L Backpack – Del Día – Kids'

The post The Ultimate Guide to Flying With Kids appeared first on Hazeadventure.

Wait It Out

When my kids are having meltdowns, there are three different approaches that we take. While fits or temper tantrums can be embarrassing, the first thing you can do is ride it out. My daughter Parker definitely has her moments where she’s very angry, loud, and not very nice. You know, the ones when they’re foot stomping and growling. Parker’s a little bit of a wild animal when it happens, even at six years old. 

Regardless of the tantrum, I know in the moment that she’s usually asking for attention, and that’s not how I want her to think she can get attention. So, I usually take a step back and give her space. Often when we’re adventuring with our kids, or when we’re on family vacations, finding space is hard. Usually, we’re on top of each other as we spend a lot of time in the car, on a plane, or just in the same room, making personal space feel very tight.

When the kid's emotions are charged, and you’re now stressed out because they’re throwing a tantrum, there is a lot of negative energy in the room. In moments like that, I like to take a step back, be calm, and collect myself as much as I can. Maybe I’ll read my book or just be quiet, but if they get to the point that they’re really upset, I’ll check back in and ask them if they’re okay or if they want to talk. If Parker is then still growling at me or stomping her feet, I’ll go back to ignoring her because that’s not the kind of energy or attitude that I want her to associate with attention. 

Work on Your Breathing and Their Breathing

The number two approach for mastering meltdowns—which I've found works most of the time—is working on your breathing. Both our kids, Tucker and Parker, from a very young age, have worked on their breathing. Breathing forces kids into a pause. Instead of telling them to stop growling or stop being angry, for example, telling them to breathe distracts them. 

When my kids are having a tantrum, I simply say, “Okay, guys, let’s all take a big yoga breath,” and then everyone kind of pauses and takes a deep breath in and out. We’ll typically do that three or four times, and then by the time they’ve done all that breathing, they’re able to communicate what it is they’re frustrated about. 

Sort it Out

Tip number three for dealing with meltdowns or tantrums is to just sort it out. Sometimes talking through it by asking questions can get to the bottom of the issue. My son, for example, is nine, turning ten, so he doesn’t really throw tantrums like his sister. Instead, they’re ‘hissy fits'. Whenever I see him struggling with his emotions, I take a step back and think about asking him some questions. What is it about this that bothers you? What is your sister doing that's annoying you? Is there anything I can do to help you? Are you hungry? Do you need a nap? These are all great examples. 

By asking questions, it lets me know what I can do to help because often, when we see these tantrums, it's hard to know what to do. All you know as a parent is that you want it to stop, but as they get older, allowing them to vocalize their issues will really help them recognize that you respect their space and energy while at the same time allowing you to work through the problems together. 

I’ve found that trying to understand their frustrations has made me and my kids so much closer because we can talk through things and get to the root of the problem.

Mastering the Meltdowns: Conclusion

So, there you have it. Those are my three tips for mastering meltdowns. Of course, these are just personal experiences that I’ve used throughout my time as a parent, and I’m sure you guys also have plenty of pointers and tips, so be sure to drop them in the comments down below. 

Backpack: Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Travel Pack
Clothing: Cotopaxi Fuego Down Kids’ Jacket, Cotopaxi Teca Cálido Reversible Kids’ Jacket, Cotopaxi Fuego Hooded Down Jacket, Cotopaxi Trico Hybrid Women’s Jacket 
Hats: Do Good Kids’ Trucker Hat, Cada Dia 5-Panel Hat

The post Dealing with Tantrums and Kids Having Meltdowns appeared first on Hazeadventure.

Today I’m going to be sharing some tips with you on helping your kids overcome fear. These tips have helped my kids through their fear, so hopefully, they will also benefit yours. 

Validate Their Fear

The first tip I have for you on how to help a child with fear is to validate their fear. One of the most common problems we have as a parent is that we can’t truly understand their fear. Therefore we need to validate, acknowledge, and give attention to their fear, so they know we want to help them. 

For example, if your kid says something is really scary, don’t reply with “this isn’t scary.”  No matter how you feel, to them, it is still scary. Kids will begin to think that you don’t understand them or that you aren’t listening to them. Once your kid feels that way, it can then be a lot harder to regain their attention and also regain their trust. 

I instead approach acknowledging their fear. “I understand how that can be scary, can you help explain it to me.” Talk it through with them and ask questions. This way, you can better understand what it is that is truly scary for them.

Once you can understand what's scaring them, you can then set them up to overcome it. You are being more effective in finding out how to help a child with fear.

Break Down the Fear

Once you better understand what’s scaring your child, you can then help them work through it by breaking it down. This way they can see themselves working to overcome it. 

My son, for example, is sometimes very afraid of running rivers. The way I like to work with him to overcome it is I ask him, “do you think you can get to the next eddie? Do you think you can get to the next point or destination we’re trying to get to?” His answer is always yes, and with each and every yes, he gains more confidence, and in no time, I’m not having to ask the questions anymore. 

Once you’ve broken everything down into tiny little baby steps, you’ll start to notice your kids gain a lot more confidence in what they’re doing. This is because they see themselves overcoming the challenge in front of them. 

Only by overcoming their fears are your kids going to gain confidence in what they’re doing. As a parent, your job is to break down what it is that’s scaring them into tiny bite-sized pieces. This way they can gain their own confidence in overcoming the challenge. 

Repetition 

Another way to help your kids overcome fear is repetition. If your child only does something once a year, they won’t know what to expect, and most fear in kids is fear of the unknown. 

You have to remember that when they’re doing these things, they haven’t had as much experience as you. Tthey don’t know what to expect, which will give them some anxiety, which then further leads to fear. 

Try to find times when you can make something a little more repetitive. Go biking once a week, go hiking or kayaking once a month. Try to do that activity more often. Just like riding a bike, the more they do it, the easier it is for them to get back on. 

Be Open Minded

You need to also make sure that you’re approaching their expectations and your expectations with an open mind. 

We’re often surprised by our kids being afraid. We then push them or get frustrated ourselves is that our expectations of the day. The adventure gets in the way of us being able to parent them in the best way possible. 

My expectation of the day is we’re going to have this beautiful day running the river. When either of my kids get scared, and it surprises me, and I become frustrated. I had already assumed how my day was going to go. 

Frustration comes out when I’m trying to help him overcome his fear. When my kid senses that I'm frustrated, angry, or disappointed, it can really make the fear a lot bigger. The end result is that the experience as a whole not so positive. 

Make sure that when you’re going into these things, that you remember that your kids are their own people. They’re going to have their own fears and their own expectations. 

Wrapping Up

The overall goal is for us to have a great time with our kids in the outdoors. Make sure you remember that when you’re parenting them, lecturing them, or helping them overcome their fear. The goal is for everyone to have fun because that's what's going to make more adventures possible for you and your family in the future.

Every once in a while you tell your kids it’s okay, we don’t have to do that. It will make them more inclined to try other things moving forward because they will feel like they have a say. 

If kids don’t feel like they have a say in what they do, the chances of them being enthusiastic about going on more adventures are slim, so by giving your kid a little bit of control in their decision-making, you will make them feel like they can decide whether or not to go on the adventure. 

There is going to be some pushing, and you will have to push them outside of their comfort zone, but if they say yes to something that scares them, reward them. Offer the reward of hot chocolate, treats, a movie they’ve been dying to watch, or just anything that will get them excited and willing to step out of their comfort zone to try new things. 

Camera: GoPro Hero 11
Sunglasses: Wiley X
Kayaks: Jackson Fun Kids Kayak
Life Vest: NRS Zen PFD
Bikes: Bosch E-Bikes

Be sure to follow us on our Great Family Adventure YouTube Channel. Please comment down below what other tips and tricks you’d like to know to help get your family enjoying the great outdoors.

Check out our previous article on one of the Best Family Adventure Vacations!

The post How to Help a Child With Fear appeared first on Hazeadventure.