You don’t have to be an expert to be a tracker to enjoy tracking. The average person sees tracks all the time. Many we can identify such as birds or dogs. Tracking is fun for all ages but it is also a great way to get children to observe the world around them and to build curiosity about the world around them. As parents we often feel we have to have all of the answers. You don’t for tracking. Saying “I don’t know” or “Let’s figure it out together” teaches a child that you don’t have to always have the answers and that as an adult you want to explore too.
I recommend you start in your neighborhood after a snowfall. Look at the tracks in the snow. Likely someone has walked a dog in the snow. Can you see the nails or pads left by the dog? Are the paw marks close together or far apart? Does this mean it was walking or running? Large or small dog? Is the track larger or smaller than the child’s hand? See if a squirrel has left prints at the base of a tree. Look for bird or rabbit tracks near bushes.
Rail trails, parks, and Audubon properties are great places to look for tracks in the snow. If you find a track you don’t know, put a mitten or boot beside it for size comparison and take a picture with your phone. Take a close up too. Check an Animal Track book to see if you can find it. If you aren’t sure, that’s okay. Mystery animals are fun too! Also, if you don’t live in an area that gets snow, but mud is easy to find, that is a great way to look at tracks too.
Happy tracking!
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