50 Fun Things To Do With Your Children Before They Grow
Childhood is fleeting. You can be rocking your child to sleep one minute and sending him or her off to university the next. You’ve probably noticed how fast time passes as a parent. You can make their childhood memorable, not through expensive gifts or extravagant toys, but by spending meaningful time together.
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We at ParentSchool believe that shared experiences can create lifelong bonds. This is why we have compiled a list of 50 things to do before your children grow up. It’s a parenting bucket list designed to help create lasting memories and strengthen the bond between you and your child.
Let’s take a look at the list.
1. Make a Pillow Fort for the Living Room
This is a classic, and for good reason. Make your living room magical with pillows, blankets, and fairy lights. For a few days, let your children play, snack, and nap there. This is more than just a fun activity; it is cozy bonding done right.
2. Visit your Hometown
Show them where you grew up: your childhood home, school, and favorite park. Show them that you once were just like them. This is a wonderful way to connect generations and take a trip into the past.
3. Trampoline Jump Together
Join in the fun! Jumping around with your children brings out pure happiness. You might even discover muscles that you didn’t know you had. Bonus: They’ll remember that you laughed along with them and not just from the sidelines.
4. Spend a Spa Day with Your Partner
Treat each child with a mini-spa day. This is a great way to relax and connect with your child. Even boys love this time with their parents!
5. Take family photos while they’re still little
Take pictures of their toothy smiles, gummy grins, and smirks before braces or puberty sets in. You can either hire a professional photographer or do your photo shoot. The goal is to freeze these precious moments.
6. Collect Seashells on the Beach
It’s meditative to search for treasures on the beach. Collect seashells and perhaps turn them into an art project. Or keep them in “memory jars.”
7. Play ‘I Spy’ on a Road Trip
Simple, funny, and a great way to make long trips feel shorter. You’ll be amazed at how much you can enjoy staring out of the window.
8. Take a Santa Photo with Matching Outfits
Yes, it’s chaotic. There may be tears. A photo of everyone in matching pajamas with Santa is something that will stay with you forever, especially if they are all screaming!
9. Share your favorite family movie classics
Movie night is sacred. Rewatch The Lion King or Back to the Future and see it from your child’s perspective.
10. Hunt for Fairies or Dinosaurs
Let your imagination run wild on a walk through nature. It doesn’t matter if you’re out in the bush searching for fairies or tracking dinosaurs in the outback. The key is to see the world from a child’s perspective.
Traditions and Adventures
Parenting is filled with heartwarming family traditions, as well as bold new experiences. These moments, whether it’s a baby’s first vacation or an unexpected day trip with friends, create lasting memories and strengthen bonds.
11. Camp in your Backyard
You can pitch a tent and toast marshmallows while you tell stories. Camping is fun without the hassle of driving or the dirt.
12. Enjoy a Roller Coaster Ride Together
Show your children your bravery. Show them courage by laughing and screaming together.
13. Have a Doona Day
You can cancel your plans. Stay in your pajamas. Watch movies. In bed, eat snacks. It’s okay to be together.
14. Give to those in Need
Donate toys, prepare care packages, or volunteer. Volunteer, donate toys, or prepare care packages. This teaches gratitude and empathy.
15. Take a Trip Together
It’s a big mission. Yes, it’s expensive. Nothing compares to the joy of seeing the world from your child’s perspective. The memories, whether it is in Japan or Bal, are priceless.
16. Visit the Beacatin Night
Moonlight and waves have a magical effect. If it is safe, go crab-hunting with torches. Or take a night swim. It’s like entering another world.
17. Get a Pet
Caring for a pet will teach you responsibility, compassion, and unconditional affection. Be sure that you are ready to commit!
18. Drive-in
Pop some popcorn, get in the car, and watch a movie. This is a retro-fun experience that your children will never forget.
Learning and Growing Together
As much as your child, your growth is important in parenting. Every stage, from the first steps to life’s biggest lessons, is an opportunity to grow, learn, and adapt together.
19. How to Grow a Vegetable Garden
From planting to harvesting is a journey that rewards patience. Enjoy your harvest by cooking a meal with your family.
20. Visit an Amazing Theme Park
There’s nothing better than seeing your child believing in magic, whether it’s at Disneyland or a local adventure park.
21. Have a Board Games Night
Play some games. Play Monopoly or Uno. Start the games, and the laughter.
22. Throw a Midnight Feast
Enjoy snacks at candlelight by sneaking into the kitchen while wearing your pajamas. This is a silly, funny, and unforgettable experience.
23. New Year’s Eve with
Ringing in the new year with your family, even if you just stay up until 9 pm for the countdown, is a wonderful tradition.
24. Create Something Together
It’s great to create something together, whether it’s a LEGO castle, a go-kart, or a birdhouse.
25. Sleep Under the Stars
Camping or trampolining is a great way to spend the day. Listen to the sounds of the night, look up at the stars, and dream.
Exploring the world (and ourselves)
Parenting opens up the possibility of discovering new things, not just about places and people. It also allows us to discover who we are. While our children are enthralled by the wonders of the world, we find ourselves on a path of self-discovery, reflection, and growth.
26. Go on a road trip
Choose a place on the map, and then go. Make the journey an adventure by singing in the car and stopping at roadside attractions.
27. Visit a Non-English Speaking Country
Explore a different part of the globe to teach your child more about culture, languages, and diversity.
28. Playing in the Snow
Make snow angels and go sledding. Make snow a goal for your travels if it’s not available locally.
29. A Great April Fools’ Prank
Keep it light-hearted. Keep it lighthearted. Your children will remember and probably plot revenge.
30. Take Your Child on a Date with Their Parents
It is important to spend time with your partner. Take a stroll, grab ice cream, or sit down and talk. Let them know that they are important.
Create Everyday Magic
The little things are what make memories. Morning cuddles and bedtime stories. Messy giggles. There’s magic in the everyday. We only need to notice.
31. Together, Learn Something New
Try learning a new hobby, language, or musical instrument. Together, you can build strong bonds by struggling and growing together.
32. Jump into Muddy Puddles
Yes, it’s messy. Sometimes, the most soiled places can bring us joy.
33. “The Talk”
Be honest and open. Create a safe place for questions to be asked now. It will benefit your relationship for many years.
34. Eat Ice Cream as Breakfast
Just once. Why not?
35. Stay at a Farm
It’s an easy way to get in touch with nature.
36. Surprise your guests with a Surprise Party
Celebrate your child simply because. Celebrate your child’s birthday by decorating, inviting their friend, and making the day joyful.
37. Tell Ghost Stories
Get spooky with flashlights (but not too scary).
38. Do Family Karaoke
Sing your favorite songs together, even if you don’t know how to sing.
39. Cheer for a Sporting Event
Wear your team colors and shout in the stands. It’s pure, high-energy fun.
40. Help Parents
Your presence is important, whether it’s in school, scouts, or dance class. Be present and part of the world.
Looking Back and Looking Forward
As parents, we are constantly balancing reflection and hope. We cherish the past while looking forward to what lies ahead. The memories we hold and the future that we are shaping together will help us take every step forward.
41. Take a Class Together
Learning side-by-side, from pottery to painting, encourages creativity and collaboration.
42. Join a Fun Run
Train together, race together, and finish together.
43. How to Climb a Mountain
The literal or the metaphorical sense. Set a goal and work towards it. Celebrate when you reach your goal.
44. See Wildlife in the Wild
Visit a national or natural reserve. It is amazing to see animals in their native habitat.
45. Let Your Kids Teach You
Flip the script. Let them be experts on a particular game, song, or trend. This is empowering for the kids and humble for us.
46. Browse Through Old Photos
Tell them about your past. Laugh about the hairstyles. Connect the dots from then to now.
47. Play with Them Every Day
Just 10 minutes of uninterrupted play will strengthen your relationship more than a thousand toys.
48. Make Cookies Together
Baking is a disguised form of love.
49. Decorate a Christmas Tree Together
Let them be the leaders. Let it be a mess. Memory is more important than symmetry.
50. Together, Read a Book-Series
Make reading a series of chapter books your evening ritual. You’ll be on a journey together, page by page.
How Many Can You Check Off?
It’s not about doing everything. It’s the key. Each moment you spend together, whether it’s ten or fifty, is a treasure that will last long after the toys have been broken and your children are grown.
