Last time when I had to gift my thirteen year old I chose a hiking backpack. A remote wish to see her few more years down the line trekking and hiking along the swirling paths of the elevated elegance. May she hear the call of the mountains through the whispering pines, through the alpine flora and the deep valleys. Now being a lover of the mountains which parent wouldn't want that?
Many a times I have seen children back out from going on road trips or parents find it difficult to manage their children on road due to their motion sickness which usually occur due to the whirling nature of the hill roads. The thought of travelling a distance of around 500 kms with kids in the northern hills of Himalayas often puts the parent in back foot thinking about the journey. As parents we also faced similar issues but with time and experience we have figured out our best suitable ways to combat motion sickness of the kids on hill roads. Sometimes its not just about the roads. The quietness and slow rural life of hills often deter today's kids who grow up in ever busy and glitzy affairs of city life. This happens when the children are not able to appreciate their surroundings and the beauty of hills that lay bare before them. They any day prefer to visit sea beaches or amusement parks rather than going on swirling road trips and ending up in a quiet spot in hills without much of recreational activities where night seems too long and nothing much to do.
However, situation could be different. Children could jump at the idea of a road trip to hills and this happens when they love the atmosphere of the mountains and the valleys draped in quietness and surrealism. They could actually be wonderful partners of adults on a nature walk deep into the forests or camping near river side gazing at stars and listening to the cicadas at night. But how this romance with mountains happens at so young age? This takes little extra efforts from parent's side to initiate them into a relaxing and enjoyable trip to hills and an wonderful stay by letting them explore freely and at the same time teaching them to be a responsible tourist before they buckle up their seat belt in future.
Here are my ten thoughts how we can let the children become one with the nature when in mountains. Believe me they will set aside their gadgets for days :-)
#1. Configure good diet for your kids when on road trip -
Most important in the first place is to figure out what you are going to put on their plates while you are travelling by road as well as during entire trip. Away from our own hearth it is important we choose our intake wisely. Many children cannot enjoy journey to hills due to motion sickness especially on zigzag roads. And that prevents them from enjoying the beauty and romance of the mountains and its enchanting flora. There are various ways parents can ensure minimum discomfort to their children without giving them any pill. First and foremost, empty stomach should be avoided during the journey. Following tried and tested measures might help parents to gift your children a perfectly smooth ride and an enjoyable journey.
1. Start your road trip with a stomach friendly diet. Avoid milk, bread and oily food as it might cause nausea during the journey. We often start our road trips with handful of nuts and fruits and as soon as we are out of town we find a good place to eat on the highway.
2. Eating fresh is the key. Fruits are the best companions during road trips to hills. Fresh cucumber, kakri, guava seasoned with black salt and apples give a good punch to the dull taste of mouth during road journey. Must avoid citrus fruits like orange, pineapple and grapes and bananas and also previously cut fruits.
3. In case dining at roadside eateries we have found idli and dosa to be the best bet in the menu for kids. Choosing hygienic place to eat and avoiding oily, spicy and processed food and any sort of beverages except plain water is equally important. Snacking is not advised unless its less oily and home made. The colourful packets of chips, waffers and biscuits do more harm than good. Every time we had allowed one to our kids we had repented. Avoid unnecessary munching.
A good lunch of jal jeera, plain rice or tawa roti with daal sabzi and dahi/butter milk during break is excellent to keep their motion sickness at bay. We often go for this option if we lack better choice in breakfast when we are on roads. A clean dhaba can also serve this freshly prepared meal. Often when we have no choice of a better place we prefer to wait and give them time to cook fresh meal for us with our personal specifications.
4. It is always good to carry mouth freshners like dried amla or adrak or peppermint which neutralises vomiting tendency during car or bus journey. "Nimbu" (lemon) has been the best saviour in case of any discomfort occuring due to gas and acidity. Simply squeeze nimbu in your water bottle and let your child have it. It will bring relief in minutes.
#2. Take breaks during road journeys and for a change let go the car AC and keep your window glasses down :
Your little ones need, not just one or two but a few breaks during a day long trip. This not only help them to relieve themselves but let them breath the welcoming breeze as you climb up the hills. On a trip to the mountains you are crossing multiple ranges before you reach your destination. And as you leave the foothills behind, mesmerizing beauty awaits you on the road in each bent. Usually we tend to ignore either side of the road and drive faster to reach the place to minimise travel hours. However, key to a successful road trip is to start early morning. Starting late and hurrying to reach the place makes the journey monotonous for the children as they don't get the chance to be the spectator of the grand show put up by the nature around us and most of the time they tend to remain immersed in hand held electronic devices. It is important to choose a reasonably safer place not far from localities and get off the car. It could be just for few minutes or a short tea break . While it gives pleasant break to the kids it also helps relax the tired limbs of the driver. Children can freshen up themselves by washing their face, hands and feet from near by clean water sources, if any, or simply experience the quiet beauty of mountain life and its inhabitants or collect the fallen pine seeds that will remain as memory forever. Exploring the surroundings under adult supervison, dipping feet in flowing streams and rivers or spotting birds or buying some fruits or veggies from local vendors on the road also sets an exciting tune to the entire trip.
Do not forget to keep the car glasses down by few inches to let in the fresh air and prevent discomfort or mountain sickness.
#3. Discover interesting games and encourage nature photography to let go off the gadget -
There are various ways we can involve the kids in observing the road in playful way. And this is what we want them- to be observant. Memory games can be introduced by asking them to memorize numbers of vehicles from the number plates of passing vehicles, asking them to spot what we see on road, or counting milestones and keeping track of the names of the places you cross. Digital Maps are a very good companion where they can gather information about every passing towns or villages and similarly kids should always be encouraged to carry doodle pads along with to keep notes and a diary any day for someone who loves writing. Older children can indulge in nature photography.
#4. Choose a nature resort which fits your pocket -
When it comes to staying in mountains most of the resorts or hotels offer scenic views but not necessarily they will be placed in a way to offer your children a vast canvas before them. Instead of deciding to stay on mountain mall road or heritage properties one can pick resorts having forest trails that provide you opportunities for nature walks in various directions. Definitely caution must be exercised while choosing nature lodges, tents, tree house , river side camps etc that gives you wonderful experience and preferred more but one must always be careful with kids. Opt for altogether different experience and simpler standards yet safe and hygienic than what a luxury hotel or resort will offer. For a change the city children can be allowed to stay closer to soil, trees, fireflies and cicadus :-)
#5. Free play in nature -
To become part of the mountain life one needs to pause breath and look around. Do not convert a trip into timetable for your kids because they just left it back at home for a few days. Neither make the trip a hopping activity by travelling from one spot to another in the name of sight seeing and fulfill your bucket list. Children should be let free in wide open area. Let them run roll twirl and fall . Let them hide behind the bushes, let them play in the puddle, let them climb the trees, let them collect stones and pebbles, let them dip their feet in the water and let them collect pine seeds with a constant eye of an guardian who wants to live childhood again.
#6. Trek, trek and trek -
The first stepping stone to some serious mountaineering is to take kids for a simple, short and safe trek during daytime. It could be through villages , fields or sanctuaries where travelling on foot is allowed by local authority. A few hours trek initially is a great way to test or enhance their stamina. Getting them ready after a good breakfast with proper dress, caps and trek shoes and water bottles will definitely be an exciting affair for them. A long stick in hand collected from near by bushes would keep them safe. Elders should always keep careful eyes on monkeys if any. On the way let them discover the wild flowers, the squeaking of unknown animals, chirping of birds, the smiling mountain kids, the shy lambs walking close to the herd, let them walk past the horses, the goats , women carrying firewoods , let them see other side of life, let them hear the silence . A trek leads to a spot like river or a view point or a water fall. Let them rest in between stretch their legs before embarking on the return journey with same zeal. I bet they will come back again, if not this path definitely another.
#7. Go local and taste local food -
Any hill station is not complete without its people. Give your children opportunity to walk through the village roads respecting privacy of the close community people. The account of harsh and difficult life of mountains that they read in their books will come alive before their eyes. The local mountain people usually serve delicious food including fruits freshly plucked from the orchards. They seat by the road side only for you to have them. Let the children taste them and feel the difference. Even the local eateries are worth a try depending on the ambience and popular reviews. Most of the times more than the food, it is the warm welcome and hospitality of the local people that draw us to their homes and shops. Let the children interact with people whenever situation permits and they will feel part of the place very soon.
#8. Never skip a river -
Even if it takes extra miles never skip experience of a mountain river. However a river can as well as be very dangerous. Hence children should always be under adult supervision as they near the flowing beauty. Who doesn't roll up their jeans to get wet in river unless its freezing cold? If you are visiting lower mountains of Himachal Pradesh or Uttarakhand in summers you might as well let the kids be in shorts and just let them enjoy on the banks of rivers specially the rocky ones. Letting the kids engage in fishing or other river sports under expert guidance and supervision is also an excellent way to rejuvenate.
#9. Appreciate their treasure trove -
Kids love to touch, see and collect the things which delight them. Like they collect sea shells from the sea shores there are similar things in which doesn't escape notice of an observant child. The things that your child collects from the lap of mountains like the glittering stones , the round pebbles from the river, a woody stick from the bushes, a dried flower or the pine needles or the ferns, however insignificant they look should be appreciated and preserved with love because they carry the memories of good times he had up above the hills.
#10. Build an interesting itinery -
Most of the hill stations in India apart from offering beautiful mountain and forest scapes are also famous for religious places, historical structures, adventure sports and wildlife. Without making it very hectic an interesting travel itinery goes a long way to make lifetime memories for the kids. Keeping in mind their interests a balanced combination of visits to religious place, adventure and wildlife should be planned to give the children vivid and variety of experiences. Too much of trekking or too many temple visits might exhaust them. Alternating these activities with some adventure or historical site tours or a day of free play will make the trip enjoyable and interesting.
#11. Finally enjoy the snow and the sledge -
Finally let them enjoy the hills and mountains in all its form. From the bright golden hues of summer to the winter's snow clad peaks each season drapes the ranges in unique way. Each season has different sports and adventure to explore in the mountains. So why not let the kids explore paragliding in Solang valley in summers or skiing in Auli, riding sledge in Gulmarg in the winters !!
