50 things to do before you're 12

**Chocolate Lips** · 22-04-2012, 02:23pm

Here's another rant http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/brit...f=uk-lifestyle

**hazelnut** · 22-04-2012, 02:55pm

I dislike lists like this but I like the fact they are trying to get parents to realise you dont have to take your kids shopping/to a 'place (swimming cinema bowling etc) or spend anything to have your kids enjoy themselves.

I have friends who are always 'doing' something but its always something that costs a bomb and is indoors, these kids cant ride bikes yet despite begging to be taken out on their (epensive obviously) bikes every weekend.

Its doesnt hurt to remind people that the outside is full of things to do and a bit of cold or rain wont melt the kids

**Dr Spouse** · 22-04-2012, 03:39pm

My cousin said they went to her mum's for Easter and she had carefully investigated a soft play that was about £15 per child/adult, for he BH Monday and my cousin sensibly said "erm, it will be heaving on a wet Easter Monday, let's go on a wet walk instead". So they did.

I thought it was interesting that my aunt, who never had that kind of facility to take her kids to, thought it would be essential for the Modern Child to go to a paid-for indoor place.

**Cerise** · 22-04-2012, 05:11pm

Originally Posted by Chocolate Lips

Here's another rant http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/brit...f=uk-lifestyle

How ridiculous was that rant. I'm sure that it wasn't meant of a tick list of things to do. Woudl that lady get so upset if someone shared a bucket list or a 'things to do before you are 30' list? I suspect not. They would be seen as fun and interesting to see what other people put on there.

And she then goes on to give the reasons why people don't do these things any more - health and safety, longer working hours etc. etc. Isn't that the whole point?

**Cerise** · 22-04-2012, 05:17pm

I've now read the National Trust's own page about it. I think it seems great. They are recogniszing that children don't get to do these things so are trying to create opportunities for them to have a go. I really can't see the harm.

**RamblingRose** · 22-04-2012, 07:10pm

I think I may suffer from arrested development. There are loads of things on that list I haven't done yet.

**Ruby** · 22-04-2012, 10:00pm

My kids can't ride bikes. The roads near me are so ridiculously steep that it's actually virtually impossible. I am seriously thinking of sending them to some sort of camp to learn.

I could light a fire without matches before I was 12 but this unfortunately led to the bollocking of my life and a severe warning about how you could set fire to the moors...

I personally hate being outdoors, although my kids love it, so this list did actually give me the kick up the arse I needed to ring the local Beavers and put my sons' names down.

**Cerise** · 22-04-2012, 10:46pm

Put them on their bikes at the top and just push?! DS1 learned really young through opportunity, whereas when DD was a similar age we lived in a house where there was no footpath and not a safe road to ride on outside the house.

There is stuff on the list that I Really don't fancy, but I will try and not influence the kids. I'm jsut glad gutting a fish wasn't on there!

**Ruby** · 22-04-2012, 11:11pm

Originally Posted by Cerise

Put them on their bikes at the top and just push?!

Don't think I haven't been tempted. On the plus side, it's good for sledging.

**Queenie** · 23-04-2012, 10:38am

My 10 year old still can't ride a bike. He can sail a boat and haul lobster pots though, so I'm not too worried. He's just hopelessly uncoordinated, and slighly nervous generally.