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Looking to add a some oomph to your outdoor adventures? Are your kids (or even you!) a little reluctant to venture outdoors? Technology can be a great bridge between the comfort of home, and the unknown or hesitation of getting outside.

Bergen recently received 2 sets of walkie talkies as gifts, and we have found that (when powered amply) they really add a lot of fun and excitement to our hikes and other outdoor adventures.  As we’ve brought them along, various games, uses, and benefits, along with a few operating tips, have emerged.

While one game (see below) naturally came out during our “research”, you’ll see that generally we just found a lot of practical and even educational uses for the walkie talkies.

Ways to Use Walkie Talkies on an Adventure

Hike and Seek!

Hands down, playing hide and seek in the forest or around a park has been the kid’s most favorite way of engaging with the walkie talkies.  We take turns hiding, and then using the walkie talkies, alert each other that we are ready to be found, and also give clues to our location.  The machines also certainly come in handy when one of us is ready to “give up”, and meet back at our designated spot! Make sure to play in a familiar location, and also as I eluded to, have a meeting spot in case players need a break.

Forward Progress Motivation.

When I’m trying to move the kids along, I’ll ask them to ride, walk, hike, or run (depending on our mode of transportation) to a specified landmark or destination, and notify me when they get there.  If we are traveling in our neighborhood, that’s usually just, “tell me when you get to the end of the block”, but on trails and parks, the possibilities are endless.  It’s amazing what a little shift does to their energy level!

The walkie talkie communication turns this simple activity into a game, and as a bonus, kids are moving along the trail or sidewalk at a faster pace.

Promote Independence!

Use your discretion, depending on age, ability, and maturity, here of course.  For our 6.5 year old, a little chance to be independent can go a long way in building confidence, refining decision making skills, and even increasing spacial and interpersonal abilities.

One of the things I allow Bergen to do is ride a loop around the block on his bike or scooter.  There is no concern for street crossings (or high traffic areas), and we pick a landmark for him to stop at to tell me (on the walkie talkie) he’s arrived before heading back.  It’s only a matter of 2 or 3 minutes, but Bergen just beams with pride upon his return!

Encourage awareness and build verbal expression.

Around our neighborhood (and parks too) there are many passage ways and areas that we call “secret ways”.  When a secret passage way comes up on an adventure, I’ll send Bergen down to investigate.  Via the walkie talkie, I ask questions such as, “What do you see?” “Notice anything unusual or special?”.  Then Bergen reports back.  Simple, right? But these exchanges are a fun way to get kids to “use their words”, and take notice of the world around them.

Simply Communicate

Walkie Talkies can just help you talk to your people.  Since using ours more regularly, we’ve found that they really come in handy:

• Talk to your kids while they are in the backyard and you are cleaning up in the kitchen.
• Communicate when some families members are on the dock, and others are up at the house.  “Bring drinks!” “I need a snack!” We can wait to use our walkie talkies when we travel to Hayden Lake this summer. 
• Check-in on each other in situations like camping, or when you separate on a walk or hike.

Oh yeah. Just have fun!

Pack the walkie talkies along for an adventure, get creative, and see what fun games or activities your family can come up with! Don’t forget to come prepared with good batteries.  Energizer® Ultimate Lithium™ batteries are the #1 longest lasting AA battery, and are amazingly light!

Tips for using Walkie Talkies with Kids

1. Practice.  To keep spirits high, and curb frustration, make sure to practice using the walkie talkies with your children before communication is essential or necessary.
2. Press to talk. Remind kids (again, back to practicing) to press the talking button down during the entire duration of their message.  Bergen often cuts himself off at the beginning or end of his communication, so we are working on this!  Also help them find the best “mouth” position when talking: Not too close, not too far!
3. Know your machine.  Most walkie talkies are pretty simple to operate, but it really helps to read the manual, and get familiar with buttons and features!
4. Utilize settings. (volume & lock)  Learning how to raise the volume, and lock the keys (to keep from accidentally changing channels or settings) made things easier for us.
5. Batteries. With all the communication back and forth between family members, walkie talkies can suck up a lot of battery life.  Not only are Energizer® Ultimate Lithium™ batteries the #1 longest lasting AA, they are lightweight, and maintain performance even in extreme (-40°F to 140°F) conditions.  We grabbed ours at our local Fred Meyer.

What’s your favorite way to use walkie talkies with kids? Have a fun game suggestion? We’re all ears! Keep up with more portable power adventures on the Energizer Facebook page. 

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