Enjoying nature together as a family can be a fun, educational, and invigorating way to spend the day—especially when you’re faced with business closures and restrictions due to COVID-19. However, if your children are prone to wandering, something as simple as going for a walk in the park or the woods could become a scary experience. Here’s a closer look at how families can safely spend time in nature and how making something as simple as a child ID kit could help in a worst-case scenario. 

Benefits of Exploring Nature With Family

Getting outside is crucial for your physical and mental health. When you’re cooped up indoors under shelter-in-place orders and a desire to protect your family, it can be easy to succumb to negative thought patterns. However, exploring nature with your family can create educational opportunities in a relatively private environment while also strengthening muscles, boosting heart rate, and alleviating stress levels. 

Studies have shown that walking or running for about 90 minutes can help eliminate a continuous cycle of bad thoughts, naturally lifting your mood. This aspect is especially important during the current pandemic, as it helps you to relax, remain calm, and focus on what’s important. 

Safety Measures You Can Take 

While it can be powerful to get outside with your family, it can also be nerve-wracking, especially if you have kids who don’t always like to listen. Keep younger children or those with wanderlust ahead of you on the trail so you can keep an eye on them. If you’re traveling over any path that has a dropoff, hold your children’s hands as you cross to protect them.

Focus on going outdoors with your kids regularly, so they can get used to sticking together with the family and avoiding natural obstacles. Give everyone in the family a whistle with a neck lanyard in case the group gets separated. Teach them as much as you can about nature during your walks as well as how to find the trail if they ever get lost. 

If you’re nervous about children who like to wander, invest in a child ID kit, which is designed to collect information specific to the child, making it easier to find them during a search-and-rescue operation. The noninvasive and easy-to-use kit will contain your child’s individual scent to streamline professional searches. Once it’s sealed, you’ll have the peace of mind you need during every family outing. 

To keep your children as safe as possible, turn to Scent Evidence K9. Developed by an FBI Forensic Canine Operations Specialist, their child ID kits use a state-of-the-art scent preservation method and are a trusted resource during search-and-rescue efforts. The company is based in Tallahassee, FL, but serves parents nationwide. To find out more about how they can help you, visit their website or give their office a call at (850) 272-6950.