51 Things to do before you’re 12
Emma George
Kids love a challenge and sometimes a little motivation can go a long way. NaturePlay WA has come up with a great list of 51 things to do before you are 12 (check out the list by clicking on the image)
It may seem like an easy task but it was interesting to print a copy of the list for each of my three kids and see just how much they had already done. The boys were enthusiastic and as they believe they are ‘outdoor experts’, they thought they would be able to tick everything off almost straight away.
It was interesting to see that Bailey, our four year-old had done as much as his older brothers and their lists were looking remarkably similar except for the odd abseiling and school camp experience.
Making mud pies, playing in the bush for a day, catching a wave, camping on a beach and climbing a tree were easy ones to cross off the list but then came some obvious blanks. Yes they had slept in the back yard in their tent but never right under the stars, put that on the list for summer as well as an overnight hike.
The kids were quick to join the geocaching brigade and surprisingly they had never jumped off a jetty so it didn’t take long for them to complete that as well. We are nearing the end of the list and it has been a great exercise for my kids to do as it has inspired them to try different things. If your kids have some free time or are looking for inspiration on the next school holidays, print off the list and see how they go.
