This Summer’s Top Ten Bucket List for Kids

Guest Blogger #513, Entry #1165, May 11, 2012

We all know what a bucket list is, right? For adults it’s become a rite of passage to gradually work your way through random activities like skydiving, trekking the Amazon and playing a zombie extra in a movie (you know you want to).

But what about the kids? We all know what a challenge it is to drag them out of their bedrooms and off their computers and mobile phones into the (whisper it) fresh air.  For most of them, the only reality is virtual and as they move through the dreaded teen years it only seems to get worse.

Where’s the freedom to roam? Where’s the fresh air? What are we going to do about it?

Kids summertime activities

Image via: Tatertots and Jello

Bucket list items for kids summer fun

You may be surprised to learn that this year the National Trust is taking the initiative to get children out of their bedrooms and into the fresh air with its own version of a bucket list. Wittily entitled 50 Things to Do Before You Reach Eleven and Three Quarters it includes activities such as damming a stream, going fishing with a net and lighting a fire without using a match.

For those of us with children of all ages, we can adopt some of their ideas to encourage our children to try new activities. Let’s face it none of us really want silent teenagers turning paler by the minute sitting in dark bedrooms, curtains firmly closed all day, evading monsters with their online friends.

Activities

Here are ten great ideas for your kids’ bucket lists this summer to get them out into the fresh air (and actually have some fun).

1. White water rafting

2. Tracking wild animals

3. Climb a tree

4. Find a geocache. It’s a real outdoor treasure hunt which uses a GPS system to search for the hidden loot.

5. Find your way to a destination using only a map and compass. If you’ve got both older and younger children you may be surprised who fares the best. (Clue, it’s not necessarily the teenagers)

6. Try bouldering – a style of rock climbing without a rope)

7. Cook on a camp fire

8. Abseiling

9. Swing on a rope swing – did anybody say Tarzan?

10. Wild swimming – wild swimming does exactly what it says on the tin. Get out of the chlorine filled local swimming pool into waterfalls, secluded coves, secret caves – all under strict supervision of course.

Campfires, camping and summertime fun!

Image via: Sugar Sticks Parties

If you think they are all great ideas but you’re wondering how on earth you’re going to persuade your particular kids to do one or two of them, never mind most of them, we have the solution.

Many summer camps offer similar activities and it doesn’t have to be within the confines of the UK. Several locations offer facilities across Europe, including the French Alps. However, if you’re reluctant to allow them out of your sight for a couple of weeks, consider the advantages.

They’ll learn independence and they’ll also make new friends. Within the first few hours of arrival you’ll be a distant memory. Older teenagers in particular will benefit from learning new skills. Summer camps allow them to learn leadership and supervisory skills, including leading groups of younger children on activities.

You can also rest assured that they’ll be under strict supervision with an abundance of that missing component from their lives on offer – fresh air.  Getting outdoors has proven emotional and physical health benefits for kids as well as parents and they may even grow to love their newfound habits.

Kids summertime bucket list

Image via: Your Way

Encourage them to start writing their own bucket list today and see where it leads. And while you do, how about some extra activities you might even want to try yourself.  Think kite flying, making a mud pie or running around in the rain just for the sheer fun of it. Preferably while your neighbours are out at work.

Whatever route you choose to coerce your reticent kids out of the bedroom and into daylight there’s sure to be one that works. Enjoy the summer.

Kate Smedley is assessing suitable summer camps for her own teenager.

For more summer ideas on Stagetecture, click here.