Making memories: 50 things to do with your kids before they grow up

We’ve all heard of a bucket list – things you want to accomplish before you kick the bucket. The team at Babyology got together and designed our own version of the bucket list – things to do with kids before they grow up.

Our children are only little for such a short time. And there is nothing better about being a parent than getting to act like a kid again. So before you send them off to discover the world on their own, take some time to enjoy their childhood … and relive yours.

Here’s our list of 50 things to do together before the kids grow up:

1. Build a pillow fort in the living room – and then leave it there for your kids to play in.

2. Take your kids to visit your home town (or suburb!). Show them the house you grew up in, the parks you played in – and if possible, visit an old friend while you’re there.

3. Take turns jumping on a trampoline with your kids until you pee yourself (weeing your pants is optional, but possibly unavoidable, especially if you’ve popped out a few kids!).

4. Indulge in a spa day treat with each of your kids.

5. Invest in getting nice family photos taken before their baby teeth fall out (or before you need to buy them braces).

6. Collect seashells on the beach.

7. Play “I Spy” on a road trip.

8. Brave the Santa line at the shops and get your photo taken with Santa, in matching outfits. Bonus points if everyone in the picture is screaming in terror.

9. Introduce them to your old favourite family movie classics.

10. Take a walk in the bush and look for fairies (or head out into the outback and hunt for dinosaur tracks).

11. Pitch a tent in the backyard and enjoy all the thrills of a camping adventure – complete with a bonfire and marshmallows to toast – while being conveniently close to the comforts of home.

12. Ride the scariest roller coaster at the theme park with them by your side. And don’t shut your eyes.

13. Host a doona day, where you snuggle under blankets, watch movies and wear your pjs all day.

14. Ask them to give their old toys to a charity, or help those who are less fortunate.

15. Take an overseas holiday together (and brave the long plane ride).

16. Go to the beach in the dark. Hunt for crabs with torches, or go for a late night swim if it’s safe enough.

17. Get a family pet.

18. Go to the drive-in.

19. Plant a veggie garden, water it, harvest it and then use the produce to cook something spectacular.

20. Visit Disneyland … or another theme park that will prove to them that magic does exist.

21. Host a family board games night.

22. Have a midnight feast by candlelight.

23. Ring in the New Year together (and then send the kids straight to bed!).

24. Make something as a team. My husband and son recently made a go-cart together – it is a memory both of them will cherish forever.

25. Sleep under the stars.

26. Take a road trip holiday.

27. Visit another country where English is not the first language.

28. Frolic in the snow.

29. Prank them with the ultimate April Fools Day trick.

30. Take your children on mummy-child dates, separately.

31. Learn something new together.

32. Jump in muddy puddles.

33. Give them “the talk.”

34. Let them eat ice cream for breakfast (just once is fine).

35. Do a farm stay.

36. Throw them a surprise party.

37. Tell ghost stories.

38. Do family karaoke.

39. Take them to a sporting event – and cheer for the home team.

40. Volunteer to be a parent helper at their school.

41. Take a class together.

42. Compete in a fun run together.

43. Climb a mountain.

44. Look for wildlife in the wild (not at the zoo).

45. Let your kids teach you something they know and you don’t – maybe a song from preschool, or perhaps a game they love playing.

46. Go through old photo albums together of when you were a child and before you had kids (maybe leave out the Contiki tour around Europe album though).

47. Play with them (every day).

48. Bake cookies together.

49. Decorate the Christmas tree together and resist the urge to ‘tidy’ the ornaments up once the job is complete.

50. Read a book series together.

Phew! That’s going to keep us all busy for a while. How many can you tick off the list so far? 

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