What to pack for a woodland story walk with little ones

A good walk with little ones is mostly about what happens before you leave the house. Pack well and you can relax, follow the story and let the children set the pace. Pack badly and you'll spend the second half carrying someone.

Here's the list we'd give a friend. It isn't exhaustive, and you won't need everything every time, but it covers the things that make the biggest difference.

Before you leave home

A couple of minutes on the sofa saves a lot of standing about in a car park.

• Download the story. Open the Clever Cookie app on Wi-Fi and download the story you're going to play. Woods are often low on signal, and a downloaded story works completely offline.
• Charge the phone. The narrator does most of the work, so a story walk isn't heavy on battery, but it's nice not to worry.
• Check the site. Look at the trail page on Discover for terrain, toilets and step-free access, then check the site's own website for opening times and parking.
• Pick a lead explorer. Decide who gets to start the story. It avoids a squabble at the first stop.

The bag

You don't need a big rucksack. A small one for the grown-up, and maybe a tiny one for the child who insists on carrying "their things", is plenty.

Clothes

1. Layers rather than one big coat. Woods are cooler than open parks, and children warm up quickly once they're moving.
2. Waterproofs, even if the forecast is fine. Wet grass soaks trousers in minutes.
3. Sensible footwear. Wellies in autumn and winter, trainers with grip in summer.
4. Spare socks, always. This is the thing grown-ups forget.
5. A hat: sun hat in summer, woolly hat when it's cold.

Food and drink

Snacks are part of the walk, not just fuel. A small treat saved for halfway is a powerful motivator for tired legs.

• Water bottles for everyone.
• Easy snacks that don't need hands washing first: breadsticks, crackers, fruit, cereal bars.
• One "special" snack saved for the final stop or the walk back.
• A bag for rubbish, so nothing is left behind.

Little extras

• Wet wipes and a small towel. Mud, sticky fingers, wet benches.
• Plasters. You'll rarely need them, and when you do you'll be glad.
• A magnifying glass for older children. Bugs, bark and moss look wonderful close up.
• A small bag for treasures. Fir cones, feathers and interesting sticks will be collected whether you plan for it or not. Leave anything living where it is.

For toddlers specifically

If you're walking with a two- or three-year-old, a few more things help:

• A carrier or a sling, even for a child who "always walks". Little legs give up suddenly.
• A buggy that copes with rough ground, if the paths allow. The trail page lists terrain so you can plan.
• Nappies and a change mat. Toilets on trails can be far apart.
• A comfort toy that's allowed to come on the adventure.

Every Clever Trails stop has a challenge for little ones and a slightly harder one for older children, so a toddler can join in with stomping, counting and spotting while a big brother or sister takes on the riddle. We wrote more about this in walking with a toddler and an eight-year-old.

What you don't need

It's worth saying: you don't need to plan activities, print sheets or prepare anything. The story does that. You don't need to read anything out either. The narrator speaks every line, so your job is simply to walk, listen and help with the odd challenge.

Ready to go

Once the bag is packed, pick a story. Shelly's Sunshine Flower is written for the very youngest walkers, with short hops between stops. If you'd like something with a bit more adventure, The Lantern Seeds is a family favourite. Browse everything on the Discover page.