With childhood obesity on the rise, walking is an ideal way to get kids moving – it’s safe, doesn’t cost the earth and allows you to explore your local area or family travel destination. And anyone of any age can go walking, so it’s the perfect family activity.But dragging the children off the sofa and away from the telly can be tricky. How can you persuade them that a burst of fresh air and exercise is a much better idea than an afternoon on the PlayStation?Julie Osborne, mother of two children aged 10 and 12 and founder of Derbyshire Family Ramblers a UK walking club with a focus on families, stresses the importance of making the walk sound exciting.“Don’t say: ‘We are going for a walk’,” advises Julie. “Say: ‘We’re going out for an adventure’, ‘we’re going out for the day to visit a castle’ or ‘we’re going out to explore...’ On a cold, wet day we told our children we were going out to see what it’s like inside a cloud - and they loved it.”Don’t forget to follow-up on your promise with action. Give the walk a purpose, for example, a picnic, feeding ducks or a visit to an old railway line, local event or funfair. Choose routes with points of interest along the way: boulders, tree trunks, dunes and streams. If they’re absorbed in playing you’re much less likely to hear those irritating words: ‘Are we nearly there yet?’ And remember that you don’t have to drag them miles out into the countryside to walk. In fact, children may find a stroll in a park or a walk to a nearby attraction or pub far more appealing than miles of empty landscape. What is breathtaking for an adult may be boring to a child. What’s more, children are easily discouraged by flat open spaces, especially if they can see a path stretching ahead for miles.If you’re a keen hiker, or just reasonably fit, it’s important to manage your ambitions and expectations on a walk with kids. Selecting a trail that is too long or too difficult for their age and level of physical fitness could put them off walking for good. But don’t be discouraged. With regular walking, children, like adults, will build up their strength as well as their capacity to walk. So start slowly and build up the pace and distance in accordance with their level of enthusiasm. And always be prepared to cut a walk short and praise them for effort and interest be it a bouquet of dandelions and grass, tadpole or earthworm.Don’t be concerned about spending a fortune kitting your kids out in full walking gear. The important thing is to make sure they have comfortable clothes and shoes and are protected against sun and rain. This doesn’t have to be expensive – trainers, a warm jumper and an anorak are all that’s needed for short walks. Overtrousers are a good idea, especially for younger children – they’ll then have more freedom to get wet and muddy. Take extra layers, a change in case they get wet, as well as sun cream and a hat.Finally if you want to interest your children in walking on an everyday level, think about walking to school. Parents drive an average of 600 miles every year on the school run. If the journey is short and easily walkable, it’s an ideal way to build the recommended hour of exercise into your child’s daily routine. Ask your school about ‘safe routes’ or ‘walking buses’ (where adults supervise a group of children).Copyright © Frances Warneford. All rights reserved. Frances Warneford is the Media Officer of Ramblers’ Association. The Ramblers’ Association, Britain’s biggest charity working for walkers, promotes walking as an activity for all and is actively involved in protecting Britain’s unique network of existing footpaths and rights of way and campaigning for better access for walkers. In addition the RA has a network of walking groups all over the country, offering free led walks to members.