Walking the way with a 6year old

[angeliki louk]

Hello to everyone... This summer we will walk the Way from Viana do Castelo to Santiago, with my husband and our 6year old son.
We have walked the camino two time already me and my husband and with our son when he was 2 years old in a carry on back pack....
We are searching for a way to carry, more like push Santiago (our son) the moments that he will get tired...
Any, suggestions?
We can't carry him he is like 20kg...so we need something that he can sit and we push when he gets tired.
Any, suggestion is welcome.
Buen Camino!!! Sempre!!!!

 

[mspath]

angéliki louk,

How nice it is to read once more of your plans.
If you do a search with the word "children" you see many posts some of which describe various ways of pushing young tots along the camino.
Good luck to all 3 of you in this new adventure.
Buen camino.

 

[trecile]

I've added the tag "children" tag at the top of this thread. Click or tap it to find other threads with this tag.

 

[jsalt]

We have walked the camino two time already me and my husband and with our son when he was 2 years old in a carry on back pack....

Great to see you here again. Wow, is little Santiago 6 years old already? Where did the time go??!!

Just want to wish all three of you a Bom Caminho.

 

[angeliki louk]

angéliki louk,

How nice it is to read once more of your plans.
If youvdo a search with the word "children" you see see many posts some of will describe various ways of pushing young tots along the camino.
Good luck to all 3 of you in this new adventure.
Buen camino.

Thank you so much!! Yes I already started the searching!!!

 

[wayfarer]

Would something like a jogging push chair be suitable?

 

[angeliki louk]

Would something like a jogging push chair be suitable?

View attachment 121902

It's too big.... And he likes to walk alot.. We just need a light thing to have during the day when he wants to rest... But Thank you for the suggestion.. WI will keep searching.

 

[wayfarer]

It's too big.... And he likes to walk alot.. We just need a light thing to have during the day when he wants to rest... But Thank you for the suggestion.. WI will keep searching.

Would some of the trailers in this thread be any use to you, could also use it to carry some of your gear.

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/hiking-trailer-advice.60174/#post-1009880

 

[henrythedog]

Go for the jogging chair and put your luggage in it?

 

[D.Matthew]

Like you, I'll be walking with a soon to be 6 year old this summer. I also walked with a 2 year old four years ago! We're walking the Ingles in a very manageable 9 days to allow for ample breaks and multiple short days. I thought about a longer Camino with a kid carrier option, but wasn't able to find anything that fit the bill.

 

[Vince Rollason]

Hello to everyone... This summer we will walk the Way from Viana do Castelo to Santiago, with my husband and our 6year old son.
We have walked the camino two time already me and my husband and with our son when he was 2 years old in a carry on back pack....
We are searching for a way to carry, more like push Santiago (our son) the moments that he will get tired...
Any, suggestions?
We can't carry him he is like 20kg...so we need something that he can sit and we push when he gets tired.
Any, suggestion is welcome.
Buen Camino!!! Sempre!!!!

HI Angeliki
From 29th May to 7th June, I will be walking Camino Frances from Morgade to Santiago with my granddaughters aged 10 and 7 along with my son-in-law. I have some reservations about keeping the younger one going but she is keen and we are training them at the moment. Here in England the school holidays for Easter are approaching and we aim to have them out walking most days in preparation for our trip. I know we are not walking quite as far as you but we are restricted by time and have had to negotiate time off school to do it. If you are going later in the year than us and would like to
link up by private message at some time, I may be able to give you some indication of how things go for us. I have done four Caminos under my belt but previously have always walked alone and being retired have been able to disappear for weeks at a time so this will be new to me. They want to walk because they met me one time in Santiago when I finished one of my Caminos and have a shell each from my walks.
Buen Camino
Vince

 

[Former member 92300]

Well, your best bet would be a jogging stroller. That said - I would suggest instead of getting him a stroller or carrying him, you might just want to schedule your walk around his needs. Have him carry a SMALL pack. In it, put some things that will make him happy: snacks, a few toys/games. Perhaps even a small ipad or something similar (unless you are cleansing from technology). Then walk his speed and his distances. When he needs a break, take a break, give him a snack, let him rest or play a game. Then start again. Don't forget to stop at plenty of playgrounds when you pass them! Practice at home before you go! My boys were actually better hikers at ages 4-8 than they were as teenagers! They totally loved hiking when they were little - and we often took a bus 10 miles up the road and walked back home along a beach. As long as they got to rest or play when they needed to - they were fine!

 

[angeliki louk]

Well, your best bet would be a jogging stroller. That said - I would suggest instead of getting him a stroller or carrying him, you might just want to schedule your walk around his needs. Have him carry a SMALL pack. In it, put some things that will make him happy: snacks, a few toys/games. Perhaps even a small ipad or something similar (unless you are cleansing from technology). Then walk his speed and his distances. When he needs a break, take a break, give him a snack, let him rest or play a game. Then start again. Don't forget to stop at plenty of playgrounds when you pass them! Practice at home before you go! My boys were actually better hikers at ages 4-8 than they were as teenagers! They totally loved hiking when they were little - and we often took a bus 10 miles up the road and walked back home along a beach. As long as they got to rest or play when they needed to - they were fine!

Thank you for the suggestions... That is how we have planned it in our minds .. ..we just thought that something to push him also at some points would help... But we don't want a stroller..

 

[Former member 92300]

Thank you for the suggestions... That is how we have planned it in our minds .. ..we just thought that something to push him also at some points would help... But we don't want a stroller..

Unfortunately - even if you did want to bring a stroller - it is more work to push it when he isn't in it! Where are you coming from? There is always the option of getting him a bike if he knows how to ride - but then you have to try to keep up with him! And not everywhere is good for a kid on a bike.

 

[JCarpenter]

Would a donkey be out of the question?

 

[mikebet]

Carrying a stroller or something like that would be a burden as great as schlepping the child himself. Knowing 6-yr-olds (I used to have three of them) they will walk when they want to and sometimes not. If and when the inevitable balking sets in make sure you have a card with the number of the local taxi service -- most hotels and albergues have them -- and a cell phone. Shortening the day's walk with a taxi ride is not the worst thing. The one thing you don't want to do is turn a fun family outing into an ordeal. You didn't mention how many days you planned for the walk, but I would think 10-12 km/day would be about the maximum for those little legs and attention span.

 

[Former member 92300]

but I would think 10-12 km/day would be about the maximum for those little legs and attention span.

Mine did fine with 10 miles which is roughly 16km... but with built in rest and play and snacks/meals along the way. They were 4 & 6 when we started our long 10 mile walks. I wouldn't do more than that though. And less of course is always fine - again - planning around the child's needs and abilities. Agree with the suggestion to keep a taxi phone number - but don't let the child know that if s/he acts up you will call a taxi or you might end up always calling a taxi! Haha...

 

[tpmchugh]

Hello to everyone... This summer we will walk the Way from Viana do Castelo to Santiago, with my husband and our 6year old son.
We have walked the camino two time already me and my husband and with our son when he was 2 years old in a carry on back pack....
We are searching for a way to carry, more like push Santiago (our son) the moments that he will get tired...
Any, suggestions?
We can't carry him he is like 20kg...so we need something that he can sit and we push when he gets tired.
Any, suggestion is welcome.
Buen Camino!!! Sempre!!!!

Met a guy one time with twins about that age. He had a push chair, you know the type with the back seat. Over the three days we walked together, I never seen both twins in the chair at the same time. We walked from Carrion to Calzadilla where he got a taxi to a hostel where he could get a private room. Taxi back to Calzadilla next morning and carried on walking. He reckoned that albergues were not suitable for the twins so he was using establishments where he could get a private room. Don't know how far he went but it was working for him. Don't know if this kind of arrangement would suit you but it is doable. I commend your courage. My grandson who would love to go is 11 and afraid I would not have the guts to take him never mind a 6 year old. It will be a great experience for him as he probably remembers nothing of the time when he was just two. Buen camino, have a great time

 

[angeliki louk]

HI Angeliki
From 29th May to 7th June, I will be walking Camino Frances from Morgade to Santiago with my granddaughters aged 10 and 7 along with my son-in-law. I have some reservations about keeping the younger one going but she is keen and we are training them at the moment. Here in England the school holidays for Easter are approaching and we aim to have them out walking most days in preparation for our trip. I know we are not walking quite as far as you but we are restricted by time and have had to negotiate time off school to do it. If you are going later in the year than us and would like to
link up by private message at some time, I may be able to give you some indication of how things go for us. I have done four Caminos under my belt but previously have always walked alone and being retired have been able to disappear for weeks at a time so this will be new to me. They want to walk because they met me one time in Santiago when I finished one of my Caminos and have a shell each from my walks.
Buen Camino
Vince

Yes we are going on the 25/7...i would be happy to hear how it went for you!! ! Have a great walk and enjoy every step with your granddaughters.... Buen camino!!!

 

[Karl Oz]

Would a donkey be out of the question?

Actually, not a bad suggestion. The kids would love it.

 

[Kiwi-family]

Would you consider walking distances Santiago can manage? When we walked with our six year old we mostly kept the days doable for her - but she did have a ride on daddy’s shoulders a couple of times.
One hint: when the grizzle’s about being tired start you all stop for a rest - and you let the child determine when they are ready to move again. They will eventually want to move on! In my experience they don’t stop for long.

 

[angeliki louk]

Would you consider walking distances Santiago can manage? When we walked with our six year old we mostly kept the days doable for her - but she did have a ride on daddy’s shoulders a couple of times.
One hint: when the grizzle’s about being tired start you all stop for a rest - and you let the child determine when they are ready to move again. They will eventually want to move on! In my experience they don’t stop for long.

For how long you walked with your daughter?

 

[Kanga]

For how long you walked with your daughter?

Angeliki I am sure Rachael (Kiwi-family) will respond in time, but from my memory her six year old walked from SJPDP to SDC, along with the rest of the family (I'm not sure if all of Rachel's 8 children were on that first Camino!) If you search her posts you will find a wealth of information, and she and some of her children have walked multiple times since, tackling the most challenging routes.

 

[KJFSophie]

We saw a family walking with a collapsible 'beach wagon' with rubber wheels...?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09KRZYMXB/?tag=casaivar02-20

 

[Kiwi-family]

For how long you walked with your daughter?

Apologies- I have not been on the forum.
The first Camino (which we did with all eight children aged 6-17 and Grandpa), we just walked from Astorga and took over two weeks to do it if I remember correctly.
Subsequently, the same daughter walked over 1,500km on a number of routes cobbled together into one Camino when she was eight years old and did the Via de la Plata at ten and did the San Salvador/ Primitivo a second time at 12. At that time we hiked a lot as a family at home too.

 

[Casserole]

How did the trip go?? I have a strong desire to take my daughter next spring just before her 7th birthday. I'd love to hear your experience!