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family toolkit: Walking in wonder

Kids Unplugged goes on a wonder-filled walk.
Hiking, haikus and huts — Iris and her family share their hopes to explore every Great Walk in Aotearoa.

Walking in Wonder | Kids Unplugged
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Let’s Ponder & Pātai Together

  • Play: During the hike, the family made up songs, counted waterfalls and explored nature together. What simple activities do you most enjoy?

     

  • Discover: Iris says her family enjoys tramping because of the challenge and the “sense of achievement.” Why do hard things often feel rewarding afterward?

     

  • Unplug: Iris talks about screen-time being a shared family experience. Have a chat about what she might mean and how screen-time currently looks in your family?

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Activity Ideas

HUT AT HOME

Turn your living room into a “tramping hut.”  Ideas:

  • blankets and sleeping bags

  • torchlight only

  • simple snacks​

  • card games

  • storytelling

  • hot chocs and marshmallows

  • rain sounds or nature sounds
     

Discuss how it feels to slow down and simplify.

Nature Treasure Hunt

Create a list of things to go & find outdoors:

  • something soft

  • something colourful

  • a feather

  • ​unusual leaves

  • fungi or moss

  • animal tracks

  • an interesting rock or shell
     

You can photograph discoveries or sketch them afterward.

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wild wonder Haiku

Spend time outside, in the wild, in  wonder.  Turn on all your senses - notice the sounds, the textures, the smells, the array of colours and shapes around you.

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Then each person writes a simple haiku poem like Iris’:

  • 5 syllables 

  • 7 syllables 

  • 5 syllables 

Walking through the bush

Lots of heavy packs on backs

I’m the only girl

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parent reflection

How can our family create some age appropriate outdoor opportunities that both connect & challenge us?

Screen Time is Best Shared
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The Wonder of Waterfalls
Image by Milad Fakurian

explore further with whānau...

Play mode

  • Iris enjoys hunting and speech competitions. What does this teach us about people having different interests and talents?
     

  • What activities make you feel capable or independent?
     

  • Iris compares hut life to when the power goes out at home. Reflect on why simple moments sometime feel fun and special.

discover mode

  • What did you think was the coolest thing Iris noticed on the walk?
     

  • Have you ever seen wildlife that felt special or rare? Take some time together to research ways to care for rare wildlife.
     

  • Tramping to a hut takes perseverance. How do you keep going when something feels tiring or difficult?

unplug mode

  • Going on a hike to a hut often means no wi-fi or phone reception. What benefits do you think might come from being offline for a couple of days?

Hiking is a challenge - that's why we love it.

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And there are always heaps of things to do along the way...


Sometimes we make songs, count waterfalls, play bush tag, look at all the different fungi and moss...

 

- Iris Fahey 

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