Sledding With Kids

Sledding down a hill can be one of the easiest thrills this time of year. It can also be quite frightening for some. Whether or not you love to sled, getting out with your kids to sled down some hills is always a fun activity in the winter months. Make sure you have everything that you need to make it a fun experience for all.

If you live in an area that doesn’t get snow, you’re missing out on a simple and fun activity. Of course, you’re probably glad to not be near the cold during the winter months, but your kids may feel otherwise. If you have the chance to get out and play in the snow, sledding is an activity that most everyone can participate in and have a good time.

Sledding requires two major items to accomplish: something to sit/sled on, and a hill of some type. Both of these items can vary significantly in how your experience ends up being, but you don’t need anything else. However, it is nice to have some additional items to keep everyone warm and dry as well.

Have warm clothing

If you’re cold and wet, sledding can lead to a bad experience. Having the proper clothing will help you to stay warm (or at least mostly warm), but more importantly it will help to keep you dry. If you’re wet, you’re going to get colder much faster and just ruin the whole experience.

You’ll want a decent coat, and a decent pair of boots. These two things can make or break your sledding experience. They don’t have to be expensive items, but if you’re sledding in your tennis shoes, your feet are going to get quite wet. Something that’s got some type of water resistance to it is ideal.

To make things even more comfortable, a pair of snow pants are nice to have as well. They aren’t required, but you’ll be on the ground quite a bit, so it’s always nice to keep your pants dry, and your legs warm. If you don’t have a ton of snow, then you can probably get by without snow pants. We live in an area that gets several feet of snow at times, and sledding in regular pants, gets cold really quickly.

If you’re generally cold, then make sure you go in layers to sled. You may find that you get really hot while you’re sledding (hiking back up the hill is a lot of work), and as such you’ll want to be able to take off a lighter jacket or hat if you get too hot. Similarly, you may get cold again, so being able to easily take clothes off and on is important.

Get a good sled

There are a lot of different types of sleds. Some go faster, some slower. Some work better in heavy snow, while others are better on packed snow. Ultimately, the recommendation on sleds comes down to getting a sled that works well. Buying a sled every year that just breaks is a bad idea. Spend some money for something a little nicer.

Having a cheaper sled on hand can be helpful if you’ve got extra kids going with you, and sometimes those sleds that you can feel everything on are a lot of fun. Trying to go over a jump on one of these sleds can be a lot of fun as a kid - namely because you’ll be trying to line up the sled just right to get over it.

As an adult, a sled that gives you a little more control can make sledding more fun. You’re likely trying to avoid that jump, and as soon as you sit in the sled, you’ll head right over it without trying if you have a sled with no control. Kids will be appreciative of a nicer sled as well.

Conclusion

Get outside and go sledding. It’s a great way to spend a day, and you’ll likely find yourself out of breath when you get back to the top of the hill. You’ll wear yourself and your kids out.