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Whether you have a toddler or a teenager, bonding with your children is important in keeping your relationship healthy and fun. Most parents would take their kids shopping or cook with them at home, but some would go beyond the usual and do something different for bonding time.

Mommy tips to make your next trip with the kids a success

If you're looking for something new to do, here are some activities that you can try with your child that some parents are doing now:

Mountain climbing

For travel writer Gretchen Filart, she started climbing mountains with her seven-year-old Lia to prove to people that they can do it.

READ: 6 things every mountain climbing beginner must consider

"I was tired of people telling me I can't do this and that because my daughter and I are females. But eventually, hiking evolved into a very personal experience for us.

"We now hike because the mountains are a part of us. They afford us peace and happiness. Every mountain is a whole new universe. We love the seeing, discovering, and learning that happens in them."

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Straight outta Iligan City's majestic waterfalls and lechon stalls, we made our way to a little-known, mineral-rich mountain in Misamis Oriental called Mt. Anggas, along with veteran mountaineers who took us noobs in their circle like Lia was their grandchild. Inside our tent, Lia and I snuggled amid the cool westerly winds and the pitter-patter of the rain. On the fourth, as our eyes turned wide-eyed at the golden glow of sunrise against Macalajar Bay and omnipresent views of mountain ranges, I said, "It is a great day to be 35." With little money, we enjoyed less must-sees in our days. Yet, we also came home with more must-feels in the pockets of our souls, all because there are so many good people surrounding us. Indeed, it is the people who walk and stay with us in our moments of becoming and unbecoming that truly make leafing through another page worthwhile. Super late share. Full blog post now up on filipinaexplorer.com. Click link in bio to get directed. . . . . . . . . . . . #ExploreMisOr #NyorsPlayground #MtAnggas #MisOr #MisamisOriental #hikeitbaby #hikingwithkids #womenwhohike #kidswhoclimb #climbingwithkids #ILoveMindanao #naturelover #writetotravel #exploreourearth #folkscenery #feedbacknation #backpackingaddicts #gotravel #triplookers #wonderlust #folktravel #roamtheplanet #travelfly #traveljunkie #letsgoeverywhere #bestintravel #destinationhunting #liveoutdoors #traveldiary #ilovephilippines❤️🇵🇭

A post shared by Gretchen Filart (@filipinaxplorer) on Dec 15, 2018 at 4:28am PST

This activity has been a stress reliever for both mother and daughter, and Lia enjoys it so much that she'd beg Gretchen for a hike.

"It's a wonderful breather from the stresses of home. We rarely argue when hiking, and we often do at home. There will be times she'd wake me up in the morning and egg me to go hiking. If it's been a while, she misses it."

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Happy birthday, happy times. #Throwback to 2015. • • • • • • • • • • • • • #hikeitbaby #hikingwithkids #phmountainsapp #globelletravels

A post shared by Gretchen Filart (@filipinaxplorer) on Jul 12, 2017 at 10:30pm PDT

Her advice to parents who want to take their kids to the mountains? "Don't be afraid to experiment. There is much you can discover about your kid and yourself if you take the chance. There will be naysayers, of course. But you know your kid best. Follow your instincts and your heart."

Trail walking

If you feel that you both are not yet ready to climb a mountain, then you can try trail walking like what Analou Sucaldito-Paltiguera does with her one-year-old son Lucas.

"My husband and I have always loved the outdoors, and we wanted to impart to Lucas that same interest. We wanted for him to develop a deep appreciation of the world and we thought, nature tripping is a great way to do that. We were taking him for walks when he was as young as six weeks old," she explains.

Being based in Essex, United Kingdom has also helped in immersing her son to nature.

"We are blessed to be living in a part of the world, where there are so many green belts and areas of outstanding natural beauty. These days, we tend to incorporate trail walks regularly in our weekly schedule, and we do take special or longer trips whenever we get a chance.

Analou also observed that Lucas in on a different level of happy when they are outdoors. "He has improved so much on his motor skills largely because he gets to do lots of walks and recently, navigating himself through uneven terrains. He also loves getting up close and personal with different woodland animals and likes feeling different textures.

Like Gretchen, the young mom advises other parents to expose their children to the outdoors. "You might be surprised how much they'd like and learn from it. For trail walking, choose a family friendly trail and a relatively manageable distance as you will be making quite a few stops for your toddler to explore. Don't be afraid with mess or for your child playing with dirt. Check the environment is safe for your child and you before you let them be."

Cosplaying

Anne Labesores may be a pilot by profession, but her love for arts and crafts led her to create costumes for her kids Andre and Erica.

"When I was a child, I looked forward to Halloween so I can play dress up. When I became a mom, I created cute clothes and costumes for my kids. Then a cousin introduced me to cosplay.

"This activity helps me show my kids how I take extra time for them. Each costume I make is out of love to fulfill my kids' dream to be their fictional superhero characters," she shares.

Doing this with her children, and sometimes with her husband, allows her to be a kid again.

"It brings out the child in me and lets me remember how it is like to be a child. Nothing can replace my kids' happy faces every time we go cosplay. They look forward to these activities as it is a whole day activity where I can spend the whole day with them."

For Anne, choosing an activity that you both like will bring you and your child closer. "Look for an activity that you and your child have in common, where you can share ideas and create wonderful memories together. Kids nowadays grow up too fast, so finding an activity you will continuously love even when they are older is worth it."

Boxing

Teaching a four-year-old to box is not easy, but Vince Bautista welcomes the challenge as he gets to spend more time with his son Thomas.

"I wanted him to learn how to defend himself, and I want him to be healthier. Since I'm also into boxing, jiu jitsu and muay thai, I started teaching him how to box when he was only three. It's a great way to help him learn new skills. Plus, he enjoys it and he's good at it," tells Vince.

His wife Angelica admits that Thomas is closer to her, so she allows her boys to have some father-and-son bonding through this activity. "I only watch them when they box since it's their bonding moment. I usually play with Thomas, so boxing becomes his playtime with his dad."

Vince agrees. "It gives us something that only the two of us can do. But, teaching a four-year-old can also be very challenging, especially with the short attention span.

Most days he likes to hit the mitts, some days he doesn't want to. But he enjoys it, it makes him happy. Actually, I don't have to tell him to do it because he's the one asking for it."

If there's one advice that he can give to other fathers, it's this. "Just let them try new experiences to find out what they want."