A Kids Bucket List

Kintarō Hattori

Folks, I was going to post this in the Parenting forum but I wanted to get as broad a list of views and contributions as possible, so said I'd post it here and hope it goes well! 🙏

My partner and I have one kid and try to be responsible loving parents. They say life is all about (appropriate) experiences and to that end we try to give the little one as many positive experiences as possible. I'm here asking for your help in creating a Bucket List of things to do for a kid that consists of things I and other parents might not have known about. From the simple to the relatively extravagant. I'd love to hear your suggestions for things to do that we can look to do in the future. For example:

She's been on a train, ridden the bus, has been on a plane. We've yet to go on a boat with her

Being young she's done animal farms. She still loves soft play

She's not a walker but I have had her in forests. I have yet to climb a big hill/mountain with her

We have brought her camping. We've only done it the once, so that's something we need to do a bit more

I'd love to bring her to see the Northern Lights before she gets too old. That's deffo a BIG one for the future

Again before she gets too old I'd like to bring her to Lapland

She's not been on a helicopter ride, so that's another one

We've made food and baked together, though I need to do that a bit more

We've owned pets, a goldfish, hamster and a cat

She's been to the beach numerous times and played/splashed in the sea

We're lucky in that we have a membership to Emerald Park and she loves that

Have you any suggestions, simple or extravagant that could be added to the list?

Many thanks.

Riddle101

Have you brought her to a waterpark or a theme park yet? I remember going to Orlando, Florida with my family as a kid and visiting Disney Land, Universal Studios, Island of Adventure, Wet n' Wild, Bush Gardens etc. Those type of experiences will stay with me for the rest of my life.

Pherekydes

A bucket list is for things to do before you die?

Kintarō Hattori

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121056931#Comment_121056931

I haven't. I'll add that to the list. Ideally I should do it while she's still a whippersnapper.

BraveDonut

Catch a fish

Fly a kite

Get a puppy (grow up together)

Plant flowers

Learn an instrument

Watch the sun come up

Just involve them in the things that you do - Some things are very small and are easy to cross off your list - The list is endless

SuperBowserWorld

Confession, communion, confirmation, confusion.

Tell me how

(I've no children, so obviously I'm an expert....)

Literally anything in the world could be added to the list but so much of how or why we enjoy something is subjective to each individual.

Maybe get your child a library card and encourage them to read widely. Aside from the reading element, allow them the opportunity to try different sports, learning a music interest, trying different things as a child to see what is their interest and strength. If they then show specific interest in something, try to support that as you would an item on a bucket list.

As they get older, having had experience of different things, they will naturally select what they enjoy most and I think will appreciate having had the opportunity to try different things.

Deebles McBeebles

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121056932#Comment_121056932

Kintaro's kid is presumably not a Highlander.

Kintarō Hattori

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121056932#Comment_121056932

I had thought so too but it seems the definition is:

'a number of experiences or achievements that a person hopes to have or accomplish during their lifetime.'

dzer2

Things I wanted for and done with all of ours

Travel and see the world at least one trip out of Ireland a Yr.

Cycle I was 20 before I got a bike

Swim To this d I am a poor swimmer

Ski like a European.

Be active enjoy all sports.

Have a great sense of humour

Be a good conversationist

Mech1

Your trying too hard, wait until she can talk coherent to you about the experience and start again.

But if you want keep at it and take photos and write a diary but still same start again when older.

Good luck and enjoy every min.

Mech1

Maybe I'm mistaken, not a walker might not mean too young to walk?

Pherekydes

If you're looking for places for the whole family to go, then Puy Du Fou in France is at the very top of my list.

Also, parasailing over Isla Sorna. 🤪

KevRossi

Walk to the top of Kippure and explain to her that she's the highest person in Dublin at that moment. Easy enough walk up a tarred road depending on their age. 3.4km each way.

Grow herbs, easy to do and you can go for spuds next Spring. Pick something she might eat, like mint.

Find out about foraging and learn to spot all kinds of edible plants when out walking (not always easy, maybe go on a guided walk first). Plenty of apps to download for it.

Leg End Reject

Give her your time, listen to her, encourage and share her interests, let her explore her surroundings and get dirty and mucky.

I know the emphasis has shifted to expensive toys and experiences, but I remember the time I spent with my parents.

Cienciano

All depends on the kid. And some things an adult thinks is important for a child to do may be considered boring and uninteresting for the child. I remember bring my kids to a fireworks display and left after 5 minutes because they thought it was boring.

Lots of what they like is interaction and spending time with their parents. Cooking is great for my kids. But try not to take over, let them crack the eggs etc.

Local carnivals are good when they're young too. Yes, tayto park is great, but they can have just as good time in the local travelling carnival.

The NAC is a good day out too, there's a lazy river and some slides. Our kids love being brought to the pool

suvigirl

You sound like a great parent and I'm sure you will do lots of things together with your child, but I'd also say, give her time with favourite aunts/uncles and grandparents, if she has them. Nothing like spending time with those people when your small, they just spoil them and have fun, none of the teaching or discipline that parents have to do.

some of my favourite times as a child were walking with an uncle in the countryside while he pointed out different trees and animals, or sitting brushing my grandmother's hair while we did puzzles. Also an aunt who always brought me interesting books we would talk about after

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121056932#Comment_121056932

Probbaly before you grow up in this case.

Mine were

Ride a good themepark roller-coaster would have to be one of them.

Visit Santa in Lapland (expensive, I know, but you DID ask!)

Spend a night in all 32 counties

Fire an air-rifle

Go skiing

Attend a Div 1/Premier League football match

Stay up all night

--

Done them all except Santa and the 32 counties

AndrewJRenko

Ride a bike, and the related ones, like ride to school, then ride to school on their own, without a parent.

Minier81

Plant some flowers or plants, even if you don't have a garden, this could be a pot or two on a balcony.

I love that baking and cooking with parents is on the list and public transport, kids just love both of these.

Also agree with the previous post of join a library, such a fabulous place for kids to visit.

Kintarō Hattori

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121057046#Comment_121057046

Oh she's well able to walk, she just doesn't appreciate a walk! It's not the most interesting thing for her.

Kintarō Hattori

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121057423#Comment_121057423

Those are some great ideas, thanks for that. Certainly the herbs are easily done as is walking to the top of Kippure. I'll make that happen sooner rather than later.

Kintarō Hattori

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121057453#Comment_121057453

Can't agree with you more. I do think that all they want is your time and attention. She gets both in spades. She has a bit of TV in the morning, a bit in the afternoon but she spends loads of time doing arts and crafts, running, jumping etc. She has no interest in phones and has displayed no interest in videogames (thank feck). Like you I fondly recall going for very long walks with my father. I really loved it and I know our one loves the time she spends with us as we give her a lot of our time.

Kintarō Hattori

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121057468#Comment_121057468

I think we do try and be aware of what she is and isn't interested in. I love walking for example but she doesn't, so we don't do much of that. Our time is geared towards doing a lot of what she's interested in. Of course we try and intersperse that with doing the humdrum, shopping at the supermarket. Not every day can be super exciting and an adventure.

I did mention that we've done cooking with her and we try to involve her as much as possible. As a kid my mother ruled the kitchen and we kids were never shown how to cook anything or encouraged to get involved. We do try to have her do the mixing, chopping where safe etc.

Thanks on the NAC- it'd never have registered with me!

Kintarō Hattori

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121057475#Comment_121057475

Thank you, I certainly try. Every second weekend I bring her to see either her Aunt and Uncle or her grandparents. My partner is foreign so it's not as easy to see her family but she visits them a few times a year.

Kintarō Hattori

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121057497#Comment_121057497

There's some great ideas in there. Certainly the 32 counties sounds like a fantastic idea and one that's easily doable. It'd be a great one to attempt when she gets a little bit older and can understand the concept.

The rollercoaster is another great idea. I had never ridden one until a few weeks ago as an adult of 46! I'll leave it a while though as I know even the kiddy ones would be too violent for her at this stage.

Staying up all night, great idea and again easily doable. We've kinda started something similar with her now whereby she can stay up as long as she wants once a week and watch a movie. Typically she lasts til about 10pm 😂

Kintarō Hattori

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121057528#Comment_121057528

That's great. I wouldn't have thought of planting something. I remember very well my father growing peas and giving them to me fresh from the pod when the time was right.

She's a member of the local library and we visit regularly. We read to her each night and she has a very healthy collection of books already.

suvigirl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121058200#Comment_121058200

It's good as well to give her a sense of independence, that she can go places and feel comfortable without man and dad and someone she is happy to talk to when eventually she feels awkward talking to her parents ( it happens! )

Kintarō Hattori

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121056958#Comment_121056958

Thank you for the post. She loves to move, riding her scooter, jumping, swinging etc. We had her in gymnastics and a dance class last term which she really enjoyed, so we're enrolling her again.

I mentioned it in another post but we read to her each and every night. I read to her every night for about 4.5 years from when she was 6 months old. We've read the Wishing Chair series, The Enchanted Wood series, almost all Roald Dahl books, David Walliams etc. The benefits of being read to are huge and so that's been a big thing. Seeing her now starting to read herself is just magical. We're a member of the local library and go every few weeks.

suvigirl

And Lapland doesn't have to be outrageously expensive.

Ryanair fly to Rovaniemi, if you book early enough night not be too bad, book accommodation yourself, and then book Santa excursions separately. If you do it early enough in the year, it can be a lot cheaper than those travel agent ones.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121058224#Comment_121058224

Absolultey - no rush on them! I'm assuming you mean while she's still a kid, so either 12/13 being the cut off point (when she'll starting adding her own stuff) or 18.

The 32 counties one is going to take time anyway - make a map and tick off counties with stars once you've done them.

Jellybaby_1

Whatever you do, it has to be age appropriate. My adult children can't remember a lot of places we've been to. Most importantly, take photos of each 'adventure' and don't leave them in the phone or on a computer, get them printed out and placed lovingly in a real photo album. Label it something along the lines of 'What Katy Did' kind of thing, ensuring dates and places are also included. She'll love you for it when you are (ahem) no longer around. Later don't forget my own favourite pastime, tracing our family tree which for most amateur genealogists is a life long process and will take her well into her old age, believe me!!!

Kintarō Hattori

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121064154#Comment_121064154

Thanks. Those are some great suggestions, especially the photo album. We have soooo many photos but relatively few are printed.

Grayson

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058311805/a-kids-bucket-list

We've owned pets, a goldfish, hamster and a cat

Anyone else notice the use of the past tense? Those pets didn't last long.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121070528#Comment_121070528

Goldfish and hamsters aren't known for their immortality.

Kintarō Hattori

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121070528#Comment_121070528

The goldish lived for about 4 years, the hamster was 3 and the cat unfortunately had feline fip and was the only short lived pet of the 3. The fish and the hamster lived quite long lives.