Back To The Nature

It's the perfect time for family hiking in Hong Kong with the pleasant autumn/winter weather. Going out to exercise and appreciate nature benefits both our physical and mental well-being. Read on to find out more.

 

Soothe your emotion

Taking a moment to be away from the hustle and bustle of city life and surround yourself with greeneries, flowers and fresh air while listening to the birds chirping is absolutely a relaxing experience. A true nature immersion washes away your worries, relieves stress, and has a tremendous healing effect on your mental health.

 

Promote healthy bone

Walking at a higher intensity improves blood circulation and increases the deposition of calcium and phosphorus in the bones. The increase in bone elasticity and strength helps improve bone density. In addition, natural sunlight exposure allows us to absorb calcium better, which is vital in bone formation and mineral homeostasis.

 

Maintain good vision

While taking enough protection for your eyes by wearing sunglasses during hiking, seeing more greeneries and looking at things further away is beneficial for the health of your eyes. Studies have shown that children who spend more time outdoors have less chance of developing myopia.

 

Strengthen self-confidence

Parents can set the duration and difficulty level of the hiking route according to their children's conditions, ranging from an hour to a few hours. Unlike highly groomed playspaces, a trail hike offers kids opportunities to traverse rocks of various sizes, navigate exposed roots and climb over fallen trunks, building balance and agility. It is a great way for kids to test their limits, remove obstacles and learn to be resilient without giving up easily. Their problem-solving mindset and confidence are strengthened after they have accomplished what they set out.

 

Improve cardiorespiratory function

Hiking forces your heart to work harder to pump blood faster. Also, your breathing rate increases to meet your body's increased demand for oxygen, particularly when choosing an uneven trail or incline route. All of this help to strengthen the lung tissue's elasticity, improve the lung's ventilation and strengthen the heart muscle.

 

Boost overall health

The negative ions, known as vitamins in the air, are many times more in the mountains than in the city. Negative ions prevent cell oxidation and thereby reduce all types of inflammation. Inhaling negative ion-rich air offers a remarkable therapeutic effect on the respiratory system as it alleviates allergies and asthma, improves brain function and metabolism, counteracts fatigue, and increases resistance to diseases.

 

Improve appetite and sleep

Hiking requires a high level of physical exertion, and people usually sweat a lot; it triggers the body's need for food and nutrients and results in a better appetite. Also, children who spend lots of time outdoors sleep better than those who are sedentary.

 

Create quality bonding time

Getting away from the screen and having a fun and relaxing hiking trip is a great bonding experience for parents and children. Since all of you have to stay together, it's the best time for the family to chat and understand each other better. Parents can also take the opportunity to instil some life lessons in their children more relaxedly.

 

Appreciate the nature

Children are curious about everything. Alongside the wonder of numerous kinds of trees and beautiful flowers, children can also admire the magnificent waterfalls and explore the flowing streams, quirky stones, chirping birds, and sizzling insects. There's nothing like nature to pique a child's curiosity, forging a lifelong connection with mother nature.

 

Apart from family hiking, there are many outdoor hiking camps for children, led by professional and experienced hiking instructors, where children can learn about wilderness training and enjoy the fun of hiking.

 

Check out our eBook#31 to know more about the benefit of extra-curricular activities for your child.