Day 4 - Silly Mountain Hike

My kids are not big fans of hiking. But c'mon, a high of 88 in Phoenix on Memorial Day? I had to take advantage of the weather and do something outside! I'd heard good things about the hiking for families at Silly Mountain in Apache Junction, AZ. It was a little challenging but we had a great time. You can read my full review of Silly Mountain Park here.

The Art of Persuasion

Sometimes I really want to do something and my kids don't (for example this hike). Usually, once we head out, they have fun. The problem is convincing them they want to head out in the first place. I could just drag them out with me (and sometimes I do), but everything is a lot more enjoyable without whining children. I have a few tricks of persuasion that work...sometimes. 

Trick #1: Combine the planned activity with something they like. Kid 2 loves climbing rocks, so I made sure to find a hike he could climb on. 

Trick #2: Make a deal. Let them choose the next day's outing if they agree to go along with yours without complaining. Kid 1 had been wanting to go on a date with Daddy. She was much more agreeable about today's hike after her breakfast out with Dad.

Trick #3: Bribe them. Yes, I sometimes bribe my children. Today, if they did a good job on the hike, we could stop by Chick-Fil-A for lunch. Kid 3 loves to go his own pace, which is slow. Telling him he could get a kid's meal for lunch if he kept up with his older siblings really sped him along.

I'd love to hear your tricks of persuasion! I could always use a few more tricks up my sleeve.
Find tips for hiking with kids here.