Childhood is such an incredible and carefree time in life. As parents, we all want to make the most of these precious years with our kids.
If you're in agreeance that experiences can mean a lot more than gifts, then you also might agree that childhood is about the experiences we share with our kids, not what we get them. Some childhood experiences teach you something, while others are the kind of pure bliss it gets harder to capture as you grow.
Many families are looking for ways to make memories together. For those families, here are some experiences you can enjoy with kids of different ages that make memories and enrich their lives in ways they'll feel for years to come.
Plant a Garden Together
Whether you've just got a few pots or a whole garden to work with, gardening as a family is a valuable experience for everyone. It will help your children understand and build a relationship with the natural world. It may be fruitful or it may be a disaster, but either will leave you with fond memories.
Take a Cooking Class Together
Cooking is another activity where you can have fun with the process, no matter how good or bad the result. Plus, cooking is an important life skill that all kids should learn eventually.
Take a Trip
Every family's ability to travel is different, so consider what a trip might look like for your family. It could have an exciting transportation element to it, like a car road trip, someone's first time on a plane, or even a long train ride. The out-of-the-ordinary experience is sure to stick in your little one's mind.
Interview Other Family Members
Storytelling within families is a beautiful tradition that not enough people explore today. Set aside some time to hear the stories of your grandparents and great aunts and uncles. They tell the story of your family's history and can give a lot of insight into each member of your family, all while bringing everyone closer together.
Make Your Own Holiday
What's better than a holiday only your family celebrates? You create the rules on how it's celebrated, whether it's the third Tuesday of every April or the first day of a sporting season. Take the day off, do something special, get creative! It'll be something your family forever cherishes.
Build Something Together
Much like gardening, building something together allows you to share an accomplishment with your child. Be it a birdhouse or a treehouse, making something with your hands is a rewarding experience that's fun to share.
Pull an All-Nighter Together
The at-home family slumber party is one of the great underrated things a family can do together. Pick a reason to stay up, like scary movies or a board game marathon. It can become a fun tradition that gets better and better as your kids grow. And it's OK if you end up falling asleep.
Make a Family Scrapbook
Photo albums feel like a thing of the past, but there's something about securing physical memories that can really bring people together. A scrapbook gives you a chance to combine all kinds of special keepsakes you might have from a special day. Reflecting on the memories you've already made together will make you that much more excited to make more and add to your book.
Enjoy a Little Competition
Some of the fun activities you do at certain times of the year can easily be turned into a friendly family-wide competition. Who can make the most creative Easter egg? Who can carve the coolest pumpkin? These are just some of the fun ideas you can explore.
Surprise Your Kids
Don't give them advance notice of whatever special thing you've planned. Let it be a genuine "you'll find out when we get there" surprise. At first, you may think their questions will drive you crazy, but it's well worth it when you pull up to your destination and see the look on their faces.
