Done the 50things to do before you’re 12 list?

On top, behind and going over a waterfall. Parents just look away.

This blog post is by Nicola Baird sharing ideas about thrifty, creative and eco-friendly ways to raise children. What do children make of the National Trust’s 50 things to do before you’re 11 and three quarters challenge?  For more info about parenting see my book Homemade Kids, or for my website click here.  

“I’ve hunted for treasure on a beach so many times!” I’m listening to Lola, 13, running through the National Trust’s 50 things to do before you are 11 and three quarters. She looks so happy remembering some of those activities as she shouts out – “I’ve made a mud pie! I’ve done wild swimming in the Lake District! I’ve built dens! I’ve danced in the rain; did that just a couple of days ago in the hail. My friend Freya taught me how to call like an owl. I’ve never caught a butterfly in a net, but that’s because I didn’t want to do, I know it can hurt their wings.”

Turns out she’d done 47 out of 50. Looks like our summer family challenge will be lighting a fire without matches (baffling though you tube is your friend, along with wirewool and a 9v battery!), going geo-caching (which is an organised form of treasure hunt) and get over our butterfly worries – possibly by raising caterpillars.

The list suggests so many fun ideas including damming streams, camping and looking into a pond. You might want to try it (with or without children):

Climb a tree Roll down a really big hill Camp out in the wild Build a den Skim a stone Run around in the rain Fly a kite Catch a fish with a net Eat an apple straight from a tree Play conkers Throw some snow Hunt for treasure on the beach Make a mud pie Dam a stream Go sledging Bury someone in the sand Set up a snail race Balance on a fallen tree Swing on a rope swing Make a mud slide Eat blackberries growing in the wild Take a look inside a tree Visit an island Feel like you’re flying in the wind Make a grass trumpet

Hunt for fossils and bones Watch the sun wake up Climb a huge hill Get behind a waterfall Feed a bird from your hand Hunt for bugs Find some frogspawn Catch a butterfly in a net Track wild animals Discover what’s in a pond Call an owl Check out the crazy creatures in a rock pool Bring up a butterfly Catch a crab Go on a nature walk at night Plant it, grow it, eat it Go wild swimming Go rafting Light a fire without matches Find your way with a map and compass Try bouldering Cook on a campfire Try abseiling Find a geocache Canoe down a river

To tick off your own list and info about the National Trust’s campaign see here.

Over to you
Makes me half want to imagine a list of 50 things you should have played with from a toy manufacturer – no doubt all linked to buying something. What about you – how did your children get on with this list?

Explore posts in the same categories: parenting

Tags: 50thingstodo before 11, homemadekids, national trust, outdoor nation, postaweek2012

You can comment below, or link to this permanent URL from your own site.