25 Things Every Kid Should Experience
We all want to give our kids the richest childhood experience.
When I took my kids to the snow for the very first time a few weeks ago, their sheer delight and enthusiasm made me equal parts happy and sad. Happy because I have never, ever seen them happier and sad because I hadn’t allowed them to experience it sooner.
When I think back on my own childhood, I have treasured memories of Girl Scout camp, hunting for sea shells on the beach, horseback riding, and yes, even those sucky piano lessons. The good, the bad, and the totally awesome childhood experiences made me the woman and mom that I am today.
There are so many rich experiences to share with our children and the best part is, they don’t have to cost a lot of money. Let’s check out the 25 things every kid should experience. Please feel free to offer your suggestions in the comments below!
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Being part of a team
"The way a team plays as a whole determines its success. You may have the greatest bunch of individual stars in the world, but if they don't play together, the club won't be worth a dime."
~Babe Ruth
Teamwork, the sweet taste of victory, and the bitterness of defeat are just a few of valuable lessons children can learn from team sports.
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Camping
"The human spirit needs places where nature has not been rearranged by the hand of man."
~Author Unknown
Every child deserves the chance to experience nature in its purest form. From hiking and roasting marshmallows, to sleeping under the stars - camping is the stuff of cherished childhood memories.
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Chores
"All life demands struggle. Those who have everything given to them become lazy, selfish, and insensitive to the real values of life. The very striving and hard work that we so constantly try to avoid is the major building block in the person we are today."
~Ralph Ransom
A little hard work never hurt anybody. Besides, why should Mom and Dad have all the fun?
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Snow
"A snowball in the face is surely the perfect beginning to a lasting friendship."
~Markus Zusak
Snow is an experience to remember. Only children can block out the cold and see the beauty of snow for what it really is - a soft place to land.
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Farm life
"Growing up on a dairy farm, you certainly learn discipline and a commitment to purpose."
~Mike Johanns
Every child should witness the hard work and dedication that goes into farm life. Oh, and the smell of cows is a memory they won’t soon forget.
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A lemonade stand
"Once you decide to work for yourself, you never go back to work for somebody else."
~Alan Sugar
Encourage your young entrepreneur at every possible opportunity. Greatness surely awaits those with the fortitude to succeed.
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Flying a kite
"Don't be afraid of opposition. Remember, a kite rises against, not with the wind."
~Hamilton Wright Mabie
Is there anything more perfect than flying a kite on a beautiful day? Didn't think so. Any excuse to look up towards the heavens is good enough for me.
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Bowling
"Having children is like having a bowling alley installed in your brain."
~Martin Mull
Bowling is like a metaphor for life, there are lessons to be learned from the gutter.
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The fair
"Go to the Fair, Templeton. You will find that the conditions at the fair will surpass your wildest dreams."
~via "Charlotte's Web" by E.B. White
Where else can you eat fried butter and chocolate covered bacon? Mmm, bacon. Fairs are great, wholesome fun for the entire family!
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Cooking
"Cooking is like love. It should be entered into with abandon or not at all."
~Harriet Van Horne
Cooking is a wonderful way to create delicious memories your child will cherish. As an added bonus, cooking reinforces math skills and the value of proper nutrition.
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Fishing
"Fishing is much more than fish. It is the great occasion when we may return to the fine simplicity of our forefathers."
~Herbert Hoover
The serenity of fishing is a wonderful way to reinforce the power of patience and quiet togetherness.
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Horseback riding
"No hour of life is wasted that is spent in the saddle."
~Winston Churchill
There's something so wild and free about horseback riding, much like childhood itself.
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Giving
"I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver."
~Maya Angelou
The experience of giving to those in need is one of the greatest soul treasures we can offer our children.
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The library
"To read a book for the first time is to make an acquaintance with a new friend; to read it for a second time is to meet an old one."
~Chinese saying
Give a kid a library card, and you give them the world.
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A family reunion
"Rejoice with your family in the beautiful land of life!"
~Albert Einstein
To give your child the gift of meeting their extended family is to give the gift of belonging.
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A live stage production
"The theater is so endlessly fascinating because it's so accidental. It's so much like life."
~Arthur Miller
Whether it's Disney on Ice or Shakespeare, every child deserves the opportunity to experience the magic and beauty of the stage.
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The beach
"Our memories of the ocean will linger on, long after our footprints in the sand are gone."
~Anonymous
Kids and the beach belong together. There's nothing like the ocean to remind us of how small we really are.
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Caring for a pet
"The dog was created especially for children. He is the god of frolic."
~Henry Ward Beecher
Pets teach our children countless life lessons in the form of an unconditional friend.
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Helping fix stuff
"The father who does not teach his son his duties is equally guilty as the son who neglects them."
~Confucius
Fathers, cease every opportunity to teach your sons about life and home maintenance; their future bank account depends on it.
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A friendship with a special needs child
"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."
~Albert Einstein
Your child's relationship with a special needs child may be one of the most valuable friendships of their young life.
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Riding a train
"If God had intended us to fly, he would never have given us the railroads."
~Michael Flanders
The railroad is not only a rich piece of our nation's history, it's a beautiful way to travel.
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Being in a wedding
"Twenty-three is the best age [to get married] because you know the person FOREVER by then."
~Camille, age 10
There's something absolutely precious about a child taking their role in a wedding so seriously. Plus, you probably won't get to see your son in another tuxedo until his prom night.
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Gardening
"I think this is what hooks one to gardening: it is the closest one can come to being present at creation."
~Phyllis Theroux
Learning about food from the source gives a whole new appreciation for our environment and its sustainability. That, and getting dirty is fun!
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Learning to swim
What do you first do when you learn to swim? You make mistakes, do you not? ...when you have made all the mistakes you possibly can without drowning - what do you find? That you can swim? Well - life is just the same as learning to swim! Do not be afraid of making mistakes, for there is no other way of learning how to live!
~Alfred Alder
Not only is learning to swim important for safety's sake, the process takes patience and practice, and more patience and practice.
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A slumber party
"I believe in angels, the kind Heaven sends. I am surrounded by angels, but I call them my best friends.
~Anonymous
Nothing lasts forever, except your child's memories of staying up all night, talking about crushes, freezing training bras, and spilling soda on the carpet.
[Image credit: Shutterstock]
What else should every child experience?
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What a great list! I am feeling pretty good about myself too, since I think my kids have done all of these except ride a horse. I can think of other things I might want to add, but most kids would be very happy with the 25 you have.
I think this depends on your family and what they consider valuable. While I’d never take my kid camping (because I don’t like it), mine has stood in the middle of Canyonlands National park in a remote area, been in the bowels of Carlsbad Caverns, gone on an 8000 km road trip, seen the races at Bonneville, learned how to ride a motorcycle, and far more.
I never had children, but recall my own childhood. It’s not so much doing things like these 25 (very good) activities. Nurturing a child while (s)he explores is much more to the point. From personal experience, I did 9 of these things as 1 kid vs. the world. The memories are hollow, empty and many times painful. So lovingly guide your children in their youthful pursuits.
I bet this list is great, but I really wish Babble’s multi-page slideshows weren’t so slow! I generally bail after 2 or 3 photos. I’m commenting here because I don’t know where else to complain. Sorry about that, it just bums me out how g-d long it takes.
Why should only fathers teach their sons to fix things? Teach the girls too!!!
I am a parent of 4 adult children and 1 infant and remembering how much fun it was to experience those things with my adult children makes me so giddy about doing it all over again with my infant. Every child should be able to experience these things at least once. You will find one child will be more willing than another based on their personalities.
I agree with H.T. I’d rather have them all listed on one page.
The list is great, but what about ‘kids’ games? Hop Scotch, Kick the Can, Hide ‘n Seek, attending an old-fashioned picnic with three-legged races, pie or watermelon eating contest (churches and local communities still have these), selling Girl Scout cookies or Boy Scout candy, going to an Art or History museum, taking a tour of a factory to see where our food/items come from, and the list goes on and on. I did all the things on the list as a child, but the horse thing, I wasn’t too crazy about. I thought it was mean to sit on the back of an animal and kept on apologizing to the horse! What memories!
I’m not sure you had this, but how about catching fireflies in jars in the summer or just watching the magic of them glow at night, and also ice cream- going out for ice cream as well as getting a new book of their own from a bookstore to read with the ice cream was a classic part of my daughters childhood. Now they are grown- so enjoy all these wonderful activities and more!
Wow, this picture looks like my daughter and her teammates. She was part of a team called the Orange Crush for a team in Irvine, CA. Please let me know if I am correct. Also, I loved the article!!!
Oh my goodness! I don’t know, it is a stock photography image from Shutterstock.
Catching a frog!
There are several important ones missing here but the list is great. Another is going to a funeral. Not to be morbid, but children need to learn and understand that we are only here for a short time.
Another is running and jumping into a pile of freshly raked leaves in autumn.
Another is climbing a tree as high as you can and feeling it sway in the wind beneath you.
Another, along with fishing, is spending a few days eating only what you catch. (this teaches a LOT) (grin)….
Another is staying out playing with your friends until it is dark and getting in “trouble” for being out that long. (grin).
Somehow we need to get children to quit being inside and get back outside and play, and fall down, and skin knees and all that stuff. We are becoming a nation of shut-ins, and that’s WRONG..
All so true. Thank you for adding to the list!
Fathers, teach your daughters how to fix things. I have every intention of teaching mine. That way they won’t have to marry some brawny idiot like their mother did.
Love the list! I would also add: looking at the night sky through a telescope, cloud watching, going to the zoo (mine had never been to one before I adopted them), playing in the rain (no lightning), and I’m sure there are a ton more ideas out there!
This is a good list. I would add music experiences – the ones I had as a child completely changed my life.
If I had children, I would try to get them at least some music, drawing or painting and dance or ballet exposure in the form of lessons. Pre-teens shouldn’t miss at least one canoe-camping or hiking trip without family if you can afford it. Troubled kids get sent on these trips because they are incredibly character-building.
Sharing and Giving – share the gift having the ability to walk the trail, to fish, to bowl, to visit a farm and/or to do chores. Whether it’s by captuing a picture or video while executing these 8 / 25 experiences. Sharing your abilities by working projects raising awareness or monetary value for an individual or group. Every child (kid) should experience reaching out for those who may need a hand. These experiences aren’t limited to themselves but for others. I’ve experienced by the one who stated ” It’s not over until the fat lady sings” ~ leo durocher
While this is a good list, it left out the important aspects, such as, NOT being picked first for a team, spending time alone, the ups and downs of friendship, and all the other character building negative situations that aren’t pleasant.
Hmm., riding a bike? Idiots.
Mark, someone has a case of the grumpies! Indeed riding a bike is valuable, just ask my husband on a cycling team. Good news for you, I’m compiling a list of even more things for a follow up post. Thank you for pointing out the oversight.
I cant belive building a fort is not on here!!
I am proud to say that all three of my kids have experienced each and every one of these items (except my 6 y/o son and the wedding thing but he is still young lol)
Awesome, broght back some really happy memories. Here are some from my childhood:
(1) The sense of new freedom that comes when you learn to ride a bike and you go beyond your normal limits. I remember thinking, wow how far can I go now that I have a bike while feeling the breeze and warm sun on my face.
(2) Playing in the rain and stepping on mudd with your naked foot.
(3) Getting chased by a dog and laughing because you got away.
(4) Getting tucked in to bed my mom
(5) Getting bit by a dog or stung by a bee for disturbing their peace
(6) Seeing farm animals have sex. Sooo weird but amazing at the same time.
(7) Having a crush on someone that doesn’t even know I exsist despite sitting close to them during school year.
(8) On swimming, Jumping off a higher point and diving head first into the water. This was such an amazing feeling when I finally did it in a local river.
(9) Making a pebble skip in water.
(10) Playing hide and seek, and your the last to be found cause your hide out is so freaking cool.
(11) Attending the first day of class in a new school and seeing some of your budies from the old school sitting in the same classroom. Fewww what a relief this was for me to know that I didn’t have to walk around the school alone.
What a great list! Thanks for sharing!
I think the message is Do things with your kids. Get to know your kids LISTEN to them. Take the time out to have fun with what they want to do too.
Milk a cow by hand. Anyone know how many things are made with milk?
Ok how about painting…and danciing..making your own play and performing in your livingroom..laughing till your belly hurts and playing hide and seek in the forest with friends…
Great list! Wish I didn’t have to click to get all the way through it.
I’m 19 and I experienced every single one of those! I’m grateful for my parents and my childhood
Let’s add “attending religious services.”
Playing in the mud. Learning to skate. Picking wildflowers. Feeding the ducks. Jumping on a trampoline. Learn to dance. Perform in a talent show or recital. Learn to do a cartwheel. Visit a nursing home.
So many experiences that shaped my life.
Having a water balloon fight
Definitely agree with attending religious services. Also, learn about other cultures, experience different cultural events. Spend inter-generational time; much can be learned by spending time with the elderly – not everyone has older family members. I also agree with everyone who stated it is most important to pay attention to children, spend time engaging them in activities that get them involved in their community, the outdoors or anything beside the computer & video games.
The only one I would drop from the list is being in a wedding. It’s nice if you have the opportunity, but it’s not something that even the most dedicated parent can manufacture just for the sake of the experience. I would add going to church as, although most children do at least occasionally, every child should have the opportunity to be exposed to some kind of faith practice, even if the parents have chosen differently.
I think this list sounds fun, but I think the most important thing is spending time with your kids and being “fully present” in the activities. I don’t do camping or fishing, so my kid will not experience these things. we do disney, universal, and san francisco often since we live in Orlando, and have lots of family in Cali. I think camping is overrated I never went camping as a child and I don’t think that I’m missing anything in my life.
So sad to see all the people out there who dont believe they are missing anything by going camping. I realize we get our kids involved in the things we enjoy, but I feel it is equally important to let them find activities they enjoy and participate and learn with them. My three boys have exposed me to music, acting, wrestling and the arts. Those are things I never did as a child and had no interest in them. I now get to watch my children learn and I enjoy that. I want my kids to be well rounded and have my values, but I dont want them to do and like everything I like. I believe camping gets you in touch with nature, youre forced to eat food with a little dirt in it, find natural activities, but most importantly you spend time with loved ones without the distraction of everyday life. As a child I enjoyed Hunting with all of my family, I know a lot of people will not agree that it should be on the list, but to me it was a huge part of my childhood. Only one of my boys has shown an interest in it, and I watching the excitement of him get his first big game animal this past year is in the top 5 happiest moments of my life.
Three from NZ you’ve missed ;
1) Fire Works, – Esp on a dark night and sparklers
2) Frost esp Hor Frost which turns the world into a winter wonderland.
3) An Arora Ustralis ? – Where the sky changes colour over the spetrums of a rainbow.
All these things create a wonder in our hearts and minds for the world God has created for us to explore. We do a lot of this at our Farm Stay in the centre of the South Island, NZ so if you feel your children are missing out and you want to tick a few boxes what better place than an adventure farmstay like ours -Check it out on http://www.aorakicottage.co.nz/index.htm
The list was great, and the added thought was interested too. By the way, horse back riding is great and its not about looking at an animal and saying your sorry because now he/she has a friend that he/she can communicate with and play with. Riding a horse is like getting to know the other side we all are one.
I haven’t experienced camping but I really want to. And I totally agree spending time in church is an experience children need, and I am not just talking about one type of church because the parents like it or believe in it. Let them experience different belief and see what they think.
It’s a great list – one of the most awesome memories I have as a child is putting up a lemonade stand on the corner almost every weekend in the summer. Unfortunately, the government is no longer allowing children to do that. Not a government-hating liberal or anything, but I think that’s a little ridiculous! Let the kids have fun and learn how to earn!
http://endoftheamericandream.com/archives/police-shut-down-lemonade-stands-and-cookies-stands-run-by-kids-all-over-america-is-there-anything-we-are-still-free-to-do-without-government-permission