Taking kids for exciting days out

[Theblackdogagain]

I'm watching telly with my 11 year olds and theres an advert for butlins. I get asked what is butlins?
We took them when they were 4, they have no memory of it. It was for the younger kids so we met Bob the builder etc.
So if you're thinking of taking your kids somewhere to make memories, try the park at the age of 3 😂😂

I heartily agree. I took my kids to the Titanic exhibition at Liverpool Maritime Museum (permanent exhibition FYI) The one that was mad about Titanic does not remember it at all - they were nearly 7!

But it's still fun at the time and if parents enjoy it too it's worth it. We did a million Thomas days out on the train line that they doesn't really remember but they were wonderful family days. They may not remember everything you do for them but they'll be able to look back at photos and know how much fun they had and know they were loved enough to be taken to places that were exciting to them at the time.

Mine are the opposite, 10 year old remembers everything!

"I've never been to the Titanic Museum"

It’s fun at the time, and all experiences shape people.
On the other hand I took mine to butlins at 3 and 2... they are 7 and 6 now and remember it. They always ask to go again!

I enjoy taking my 4 year old to different places, and seeing her delight! I've some nice photos, and I've some wonderful memories. Those outings are for me and my husband just as much as her.
Of course we have park days, and NT/forest/garden days too.
We bake and cook together, have tickle fights, play games, and some days I insist she plays be herself- because I either don't want to play or I have other stuff to do.
My point is outings/holidays are a normal part of modern parenting (if money allows), and the child doesn't need to remember them for it to be important or valuable

That's interesting, ask them again at 11, I wonder if we can track how long the memories last 😂

It isn't just about making memories, it is the enjoyment and development they get at the time.

We went on safari when DD was 7. She is 16 now and only has hazy memories, but boy she found it brilliant at the time.

The activities and days out don’t need to be remembered to be beneficial. Spending time as a family in enjoyable ways simply creates pathways in the brain that are good for cognitive and emotional development.

It doesn't matter if they don't remember the specific details or the 'day out' at all. Likewise it doesn't matter if it costs £309 or 30p. But it's about a bank of feelings that shape who you are & what your relationships are like. Trips to new places are fun & exciting and enriching experiences. Trip to the local park are stable & familiar. They each have their place.

I don't remember a lot of details of my childhood, but I felt wanted, loved & happy. The tiny snippets I do remember are worth all the time/money and energy my parents spent raising us.

Don't feel it was wasted.

@Shouldbedoing. Even as an adult there's a lot I don't remember. If it wasn't for photos there are loads of places I'd swear ive never been! 🤣🤣

So are you saying then that as they don’t remember things before a certain age there’s no point doing anything with them before then? No holidays, trips to the zoo, days out etc?

I got really pissed off cos my kids only seemed to remember the negative experiences, but apparently that's a good thing, because it means the negative ones are few and far between, so make an impact. We'll see when they're adults.

Mine remember everything too. What I've found is that trips where they moaned, so I thought they didnt enjoy it, they later told grandparents that the said day out was amazing! So that was good to know!

I took mine on holiday when she was 4. I'm honestly not sure how much she remembers of it. Possibly not a lot.
It is a shame
But it was the best holiday I've ever had in my life
So I wouldn't change my decision

Took the 3yo on the London Eye (for his 3rd birthday, not my idea I hasten to add and I stayed on the ground with the baby!)

Waste of time and money.

I really don't get the "making memories" idea. For me a holiday or a day out is all about having fun, being together and enjoying a day. Not a specific memory of xyz.

We do choose trips based on current likes, regardless if they remember it or not. We also do trips we parents like and DD would maybe not choose but still enjoys the day. It is a family thing, not for DD specifically (OK, the theme parks are def for her).

Holidays we won't do often were/are planned for an age where DD would appreciate that a long haul flight is something special and expensive, I wouldn't drag a toddler around to the other side of the world. In her case some things we did stuck, some didn't. But we went because we all wanted to go and have a nice holiday.

I just asked DS1 (5) if he remembered going to Italy (age 2) - he remembers playing in a truck (one of those toddler ride ons in my cousins garden).

Not bad I guess.

My first memory is from a holiday too - age 18m I remember crying because I couldn't find a pear on the floor of the pear orchard like the bigger children and my mum giving me a yoghurt instead.

But it's not just about 'making memories' for them, is it? You want to have fun days out too... I could happily never step foot in a playground again after this winter.

My two year old loves climbing up and down the steps at a local NT house. He won't remember it, but it's a nice day out and he's having fun.

Ah but did you all have fun and do you have lovely memories of family days out to treasure? We love going to our local places but Covid has shown me the importance of also going to new places.

@IdblowJonSnow

Mine remember everything too. What I've found is that trips where they moaned, so I thought they didnt enjoy it, they later told grandparents that the said day out was amazing! So that was good to know!

We had this recently. Started complaining as we pulled in to the carpark, didn't stop. Yet the next day was telling family it was the best day!

But they hopefully enjoy it at the time and it helps their development. It also stops you climbing the walls always going to the park.

My mum took then 4yo ds to London to meet grandad at work. They also went to St Paul's cathedral the same day. All ds remembers is going to the canteen in grandads office and everyone chatting to him

I noticed every time we took dc somewhere they did develop teeny bit more, it's building blocks..
Holding snake at zoo.. Helps to inbed that into child they know exactly what at snake is when read book etc

Don't do it for memories. Do it for fun.

Otherwise we might as well never do anything with them.

I took mine all over when they were small, sometimes for work purposes so its been a very random set of places they've been. Now they are teenagers their recollections are hilarious and usually based on food.

Not a real example but along the lines of 'Remember that place we went to and I had Double Decker and a can on coke?' 'yes that was actually the back offices of the Bank of England and you met the home secretary ' 'oh i was wondering about that, was it a normal coke or a mini can ?'

Well we went to haven last year with DS who was 10 months at the time. Obviously he won't remember a single thing about it but it wasn't just his holiday. It was ours too and we have lovely pictures and memories of it.