To some children, the idea of going for a walk can bring out a series of grunts and moans. The best way to make it more enticing, and distract from boredom or tired legs along the way, is to keep them entertained – and we have a few ideas how.

From planning the adventure to leading the way as you go, children often enjoy being involved in the logistics of an outing. And knowing they have some control over the day ahead is much more likely to result in an enthusiastic attitude. Younger children might like to pack a few things in a backpack to carry with them – snacks, a water bottle, a small toy – while older ones may want to help make a picnic, plan the route on a map or choose a point of interest to aim for. Offer a choice between a walk to a good climbing tree, across the fields to a farm shop, or down to the canal to watch the boats so they feel it’s their call.

To engage them from the get-go, set them a mini mission to complete. Just write or print out this wintry scavenger hunt – you can even place it on a clipboard with a pencil – and bring it along on your next hike, and see how many they can spy on their journey. These ideas cover all the senses to help little ones become more aware and appreciative of the natural surroundings.

Land art is created entirely from materials found in the environment within which it is constructed. Encourage them to search around the forest floor, the beach, the fields. What can they find? Woodlands may be carpeted with acorns, pinecones and leaves, while a beach might be strewn with seashells, pebbles or sea glass. After the children have collected some materials, they can use them to create their own natural artworks – a spiral pattern made of pinecones, or a sunburst of fern fronds. You can capture them on your phone camera and build an album with every walk.

Pack some small containers, like matchboxes, small Tupperware pots or envelopes, and challenge children to find as many different items as they can on the walk that will fit inside. Who can collect the most items, or find the most unusual or beautiful one? If you know your route well, you can even set them the challenge of finding certain items that you know you’re likely to come across, like holly berries, catkins or moss. It’s also a handy tactic to avoid returning home to find your pockets stuffed with pebbles, leaves and other curiosities that little ones like to pick up.

Adventures are everywhere when you’re in nature, and imaginations can run wild. In the woods, can they see the three bears? What about fairies? If they can’t, then why not? Where must they be and what are they doing? As you cross rivers and streams, go hunting for crocodiles. Don’t forget to check under bridges to see if there’s any trolls lurking there. Oh, there they are! Better find a tree to hide behind!

The promise of good snacks over the next hill is one of the easiest things to motivate little legs. Ask them to head off in search of a snack-spot with the best view to enjoy while you munch. For shorter walks try some chunky cookies and a hot flask of cocoa – maybe even a little bag of marshmallows for them to add on top. For bigger hikes, a proper picnic stop is probably in order. In which case, hot soup, cheese sandwiches and sausage rolls will fuel the whole family. If everyone’s wrapped up warm and has somewhere dry to perch (packing a waterproof picnic blanket is ideal for this), they’ll have just as much fun as picnicking in the sun.