How to make childhood magical?

[Shopperami]

What type of things do you do with the kids to make their childhood magical?

Is there places you take them which are magical?

Or little things at a home?

Anything else?

What made your childhood magical?

When I look back at mine, the happy memories I remember the most are our dad running around the house chasing us, if he caught us would tickle us..building swings in the wood and a den! Going to my grandparents every weekend and making cakes!
We went on huge holidays..Disneyland California for Christmas and the Millennium..both me and my sister can't remember any of it!

I think it's the little things, children hold close to them ❤

What do you mean by magical?

If you mean just a lovely childhood, I like to think I give my dcs that.
Mainly just by spending time with them.
I take them out loads to all sorts of interesting and exciting places and relax at home with them doing fairly normal things.
I think showing dcs their world and the amazing places they can go is pretty magical. I still find wonder in that.

Beechview- where are the interesting and exciting places you take them?

Oh all over.
Just in the last couple of years or so we’ve been to;
Cheddar gorge
Cader idris
Durdle door
Hever castle
Windsor castle
Oxford
Brighton
Lots of woods and beaches within driving distance.
(Plus a couple of overseas holidays.)

I love exploring and will happily jump in the car and drive for a couple of hours or get on a train (Family and friends railcard)
Air bnb if we want to stay over.

We're supposed to be trying to make it magical? Oh, bollocks...

Nature/wonderment... outdoor activities - star watching, looking for different sea shells in rock pools, walks in the woods and other habitats, learning different trees and plants, foraging for blackberries and making crumble, looking for different cloud patterns etc. Marking the turning seasons. Give them a small corner of the garden to cultivate.

Science/technology past & present... Viking boats, NASA spacecraft, medieval medicine, watermills, simple physics/chemistry kit experiments to do at home, looking at leaves/onion skin/pond water under a microscope etc etc.

Literature/imagination... myths, fairy stories, modern stories like Harry Potter, poems, creative writing, oral storytelling, history, going to museums etc.

Cooking/baking... it's like alchemy where you stir your wishes in as you mix the bowl

... by not trying too hard to make it magical. You’re just setting yourself up for disappointment and stress then, especially if you have very small children who may react differently to how you imagine they will. I think DS (9) has a pretty magical childhood but it’s just about seizing the moment and taking opportunities to do fun things as and when they arise. Some examples are, going to see shows/ live music, having a small party at home ‘just because’, getting out into nature and climbing trees/ rocks etc, going to the beach, getting a pet (only if you’re prepared to look after it, reading a bedtime story even when they’re old enough to read to themselves...

Don't "try" for a start. Just spend as much good time with them as you can and say yes as much as you are able to. Enjoy their company and show them that you enjoy their company. Don't over think or over plan or, importantly, over spend!

I think the simple things are the most magical

That's what I remember fondly from my childhood

Mine are 17 & 13, none of the things that cost money or would be deemed 'magical' or memorable are what they reminisce about.
My eldest says her childhood was wonderful and what she loved were the little things, dvds in the 'big' bed, indoor picnics, endless crafts etc Little notes left on her pillow, staying up late and having a disco in the living room, yes we've had some lovely seaside holidays etc but it's not what they talk about now they're older.
I cringe when I see people post photos of eurodisney etc and see the dreaded #makingmemories comments. People have lost sight of what's important.

My parents definitely never aimed for ‘magical’, but the memories that stand out for me as magical were about a moment of quietness, ritual, or connection with nature (or all three)
Choosing a real Christmas tree each year and decorating it, cutting ivy with my dad to decorate the house.
An Easter egg hunt in the garden one year
Anything to do with building dens, teepees out of branches, etc
Collecting frogspawn and feeding the tadpoles chicken stew
Going out to look at a lunar eclipse or just a walk out to see the moon

Another favourite is watching the sunset with a flask of hot chocolate to share. Funnily enough their most memorable one is the time that dh and I were arguing and by the time we got there, there was literally 1mm of sun left. That's often mentioned as a favourite memory!

Magical? Stop pressurising parents!

Sadly my children never had the freedom I had in the 70s/80s to play out all day with other children without a phone or a helicopter parent in sight. My mum coming to find us when it started getting dark lol! Those are my favourite memories.

You could support their reading, take them to the library - if you have any near you - and support their reading. Books are magical.

Spending time outdoors and not over-supervising is also good. Step back a bit.

My 17 year old remembers making a house out of the big box our new washing machine came in, pleated wrapping paper curtains and all. Notes in her lunchbox. Cooking sausages on the beach. Dens under the kitchen table. Tadpoles. She appreciates all the holidays, (Disney, cruises etc etc) but it's the little things that make the warmest memories.

I get uneasy about this idea of making childhood's 'magical', I feel too many parents put themselves under pressure to create magic, even when they may be struggling to make ends meet!

I had an extremely happy childhood, but I wouldn't describe any of it as magical.

That said, there is something special, if not exactly magic, about days out. Last year in October half term, I took my kids out to a wood that I heard was especially lovely in autumn. No specific amazing thing happened, but the whole day worked out so nicely and I'll certainly remember it for a long time, I don't know if they will!

Spontaneity - taking them to the seaside for the day on a whim, deciding to have a BBQ last minute just because it's a good day for it, go camping overnight as a surprise, playing outdoors together until it's late on a summers night, making a tent in the garden and sleeping out, letting them get mucky outdoors, paddle in a river and get soaking wet, make dens out of furniture in the living room, go for a walk late at night and watch the stars, write and act out a 'play' together, put on a talent show in the garden, make an obstacle course out of garden furniture, take them on surprise day trips to exciting places like a theme park, play with them as much as possible. As you can tell much of my childhood was quite outdoorsy as we lived in the countryside, and we didn't have much money, but these are the best memories i have from childhood. I think it's the simple things that work best. Don't over think it, just go with the flow and don't make too many plans

We have been able to give our kids lots of great holidays and experiences, but the things they chat about are the family, having dinner in pjs whilst watching films, walking in the rain/ snow etc - it’s the little things

I really think the magical things are the simple things - often involving nature and most importantly - time and attention.

Magical? Why?
I'll stick with stable, secure, comfortable, warm, fed, loved and listened to thanks.

Also I think just making the simple things in life, things like the above examples, seem exciting will instil that sense of excitement in your children. Help them appreciate the small things and enjoy each other's company. I don't think children need grand holidays and expensive days out to feel excitement, and often those type of visitor day trips that have been mentioned up thread can be incredibly boring for kids! See things through a child's eyes. Kids are excited by adventure and novelty, not pricey holidays and museums

That sounds magical to me, @Kemer2018.

stable, secure, comfortable, warm, fed, loved and listened to

Yep. Add laughter and you've got it.