How to Motivate Kids to Walk (Even on the Days You Don’t Feel Like It)

There are days when getting out the door feels harder than the walk itself.

Shoes are missing.

Someone’s tired before you’ve even started.

The weather looks... questionable.

And you find yourself wondering if it’s worth it.

If you’ve ever struggled with how to motivate kids to walk, you’re not alone.

We’ve had more of those days than I can count.

Days where staying home would have been easier. Warmer. Quieter.

Days where I’ve stood in the hallway, coat half on, questioning the decision entirely.

And yet—those are often the days that stay with me the most.

Why family walks don’t always start well

Family walks don't always begin with that calm, slow, “let’s head out into nature” feeling.

Mostly, they begin with:

• Negotiation

• Reminding everyone where their shoes are

• Carrying someone before you’ve even started

There’s a version of outdoor life that looks effortless.

But, this is real life—with children, changing moods, and energy that doesn’t always match the plan.

I don’t know about you, but this part really stresses me out—it puts me in a bad mood before I’ve even left the house and makes me want to give up. But from experience, I know it changes every time. I tell them the same thing, we just need to get outside...and sure enough, once we do, the mood always lifts.

The moment things shift on a walk

It doesn’t happen all at once. There’s no dramatic turning point. But somewhere along the path, something softens.

A complaint turns into curiosity.

A slow step becomes rhythmic.

Someone notices something small—a stick, a view, a sound—and suddenly we’re there, in it.

Not rushing. Not pushing. Just walking.

And this is often the key to getting kids to enjoy walking—not forcing it, but letting it unfold.

Gentle ways to motivate kids to walk (that actually work)

Instead of pressure, these small shifts can make a big difference:

• Lower expectations

Not every walk needs a big goal or distance

• Let them lead sometimes

Kids engage more when they feel in control

• Focus on the experience, not the outcome

What they notice matters more than how far they go

• Pause often

Breaks aren’t interruptions—they’re part of the walk

• Accept slower pace

Walking with children is different—and that’s okay

These aren’t quick fixes. But over time, they change how walking feels—for everyone.

Why it’s not really about the walk

I used to put everything into focusing on the destination. The view. The distance. The sense of having done something.

Yes, those things are part of it but, I've learned to explore a deeper meaning. What stays with me are the in-between moments:

• The snack break that lasts longer than planned

• The conversation that only happens because we’re side by side

• The laughter that comes out of nowhere

  
  

And sometimes, it’s just the fact that we actually pushed through and went.

What kids learn from walking outdoors

Not in a big, obvious way, but slowly, over time, they learn:

○ That things don’t have to be perfect to be worth doing.

○ That discomfort doesn’t always mean stop

○ That fresh air and space can shift a mood

And maybe, without realising it, they’re learning resilience. Not through pressure—but through experience.

The days we almost didn’t go

When I look back, it’s not the “perfect” days that stand out.

It’s the ones we nearly skipped. The grey mornings, the low-energy starts, the walks that felt like effort before they felt like anything else.

Because those are the days that remind me it doesn’t have to look good to be good.

A quiet reminder for parents

If you’re having one of those days—the ones where getting outside feels like too much

You don’t have to go far.

You don’t have to do it perfectly.

You don’t even have to feel ready.

Just step outside.

That’s often enough.