When I look back at my childhood, I do so with many fond memories.
When I wasn’t in school, I was usually outdoors with my friends. Walking, riding bikes, playing and generally having what is now know as ‘old fashioned’ fun.
The majority of my childhood was spent outdoors and I firmly believe that this is how childhood should be.
Whilst I think my husband and I are in the minority because our children do not have iPads and rarely using technology, they do however, spend a lot of time watching TV.
This summer, I’m keen to change this and get our girls excited about spending time outdoors. That’s why I’ll be printing off the National Trusts activity list called ’50 things to do before you’re 11 3/4′. You can find it online here.
The list is broken down into five categories; Adventurer, Discovered, Ranger, Tracker and Explorer. It’s full of so many different things that children should experience by the time they’re 11 3/4. My favourites include:
Camp out in the wild
Make a trail with sticks
Dam a stream
Pick blackberries growing in the wild
Discover what’s in a pond
Cook on a campfire
I’ve printed off two of the activity lists for our twins, and before we start, we’ll tick off what they’ve already done, and then over the course of the summer holidays we’ll try to compete as many of the activities as possible and even add some of our very own – mainly learning to ride their bikes without stabilisers! If anyone has any tips on how to do this, please let me know in the comments below!
The thing that I love most of all about the activities listed is that most of them are free. To me that says a lot about how childhood should be. There’s no need to spend lots of money on activities to entertain children, when mother nature and the world around us can do it for free!
Have you given this list a go? How many can you, and your children tick off
Oh I love this! I’ll have to print off a copy for my girls too. 🙂 #ThatFridayLinky
That’s a really great idea. Looking at the list I feel a small sense of pride because we’ve done pretty much all of those things. Of course, that doesn’t mean we can’t do them again!
#ThatLinkyFriday
Great idea!!
I’m so looking forward to my girls going through this list. There a bit young for a number of them but I’m counting down to when I can take them camping in particular. #ThatFridayLinky
Great list!!! Love the 11 3/4 🙂 #thatfridaylinky
I love this so much! I might print it off now and get a headstart with my four year old stepson 🙂
Every child should experience these activities. I loved camping when I was a kid.
#ThatFridayLinky
Our grandkids are the same as your children not allowed on the ipads and phones, TV is s treat but then they are younger and no doubt more TV will come each year. But there are always other activities for them with a little imagination from parents and grandparents.
Lovely idea! As far as learning how to ride a bike is concerned – we put knee and elbow pads on them (as well as their helmets) and they felt much braver – and went for it xx
My parents bought the book for my girls a couple of years ago – I think this is such a great challenge – we are 3 quarters of the way through 🙂
We love love doing this – it is so much fun hunting and then finding things – we have also got into rock painting too which is well worth a try 🙂
#ThatFridayLinky
Great ideas here. It’s amazing how quickly time passes. I’m ready to embrace all of these. #thatfridaylinky
This is brilliant – thank you and thank you National Trust! There are enough on this list still to tick off so I’ll be downloading and printing a copy to stick on the wall. I might even see if I can get a big poster printed.
It’s great to see that your bunch don’t spend too much time on gadgets and that you’re trying to pry them away from the TV – it’s the GREAT outdoors for a reason!
Sounds like great fun – and challenging! #ThatFridayLinky
I love the National Trust for ideas they come up with for kids. When we’ve been to some of the locations we’ve seen they have activity packs that you can pick up for the kids to do on the way round. Kids should be outside more. #ThatFridayLinky
looks like a great list. My daughter has a tablet that she spends way too much time on looking up slime recipes, but we also went for a long hike today and spent a few hours in the pool. Everything is moderation but I’m pretty happy that she likes being outside as much as possible #thatfridaylinky
That’s a great list. Makes me think about all the fun things I did as a child. #ThatFridayLinky
Wow, that’s a great list. I’m going to have a go and maybe even make up my own. Thanks dor sharing.
#thatfridaylinky
Chris is much more outdoorsy than me so the kids have the chance to do more outside stuff now! I am happier indoors with a book! #thatfridaylinky