How to teach your kid to plan a family hike, ride or weekly workout

By 10 to 12, kids can do more than join in a family walk. They can plan it: pick the route, check the weather, pack the bag and lead the way. And when a preteen is in charge of getting the family moving, everyone tends to show up.

Why it's worth handing over

The CDC recommends at least 60 minutes of activity every day for kids 6 to 17, and adults need regular activity too. A family outing that your child planned counts for everyone.

Planning also builds the same skills as budgeting: thinking ahead, weighing options and making a plan that works for other people, not just yourself.

Skill 1: Plan a family walk, hike or bike ride

Pick a route that fits everyone

• Who's coming? A route that's fun for a 12-year-old might be too long for a 6-year-old or a grandparent.
• How far? For a family with young kids, a mile or two is plenty. Look at the distance and the hills.
• Where's the bathroom? Seriously. Plan it.
• Use a map. Park websites and map apps show trail lengths and difficulty. Your child can read the map and explain the route to the family.

Check the weather the day before

• Too hot? Go early in the morning.
• Rain or storms? Have a backup plan.
• Sunny? Plan for sun protection (see below).

Pack the bag

Sun safety: the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a broad-spectrum sunscreen of at least SPF 15, reapplied every 2 hours and after swimming or sweating, plus shade when you can find it.

Helmets: for a bike ride, the AAP says helmets should sit level on the head, covering the top of the forehead, with the chin strap snug.

Lead the way, with a grown-up

Your child leads, with a grown-up close by. They watch the time, call water breaks, and check that the slowest walker is keeping up. That last one is the real leadership skill.

Skill 2: Try a new sport or activity

Planning is easier when kids know lots of activities. Once a month, try something none of you have done: rock climbing at a gym, a new trail, pickleball, a dance video, a frisbee game.

The AAP advises kids to play a variety of sports rather than specializing in one, which helps prevent overuse injuries. Trying new things also helps kids find the activity they'll love for life. Ask afterward: "What did you like? Would you do it again?"

Wear the right safety gear for each activity, every time.

Skill 3: Lead a weekly family movement session

This is the mastery test: once a week, for a month, your child plans and leads a family movement session.

1. Pick the same day each week, like Saturday morning or Wednesday after dinner.
2. Plan an activity everyone can do: a walk, a bike ride, a backyard game, a dance party, a stretching session.
3. Lead a warm-up: a few minutes of easy movement first.
4. Run the activity, and keep it fun. Music helps.
5. Do it four weeks in a row.

Ideas for a month:

When to check with your pediatrician

If anyone in the family has a health condition that limits activity, check with a doctor before starting something new. And if your child gets unusually short of breath, dizzy or has chest pain during activity, stop and see your pediatrician.

Make it a quest

In Family Quests, this is the Active Planner skill, the top of the Body and Health branch. Practice quests are plan a family walk, hike or bike ride and try a new sport or activity, and the mastery quest is plan and lead a weekly family movement session for a month. Start free.

Next: go back to practicing a sport skill, or see how budgeting uses the same planning skills.

This article is general information for parents, not medical advice. Every child develops at their own pace. If you have questions about your child's health or development, talk with your pediatrician.