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 😂😂

My 4.5 remembers most things but always the thing that went wrong, for example, do you remember our holiday to.... oh yes is that where I fell over and hurt my knee..
Etc

I think even if they don’t remember it shapes who they are, builds confidence etc

I couldn't disagree more, and I love arranging trips and visits for my children. Interesting trips broaden the mind and life experience. They get the most out of them if they are age-appropriate, and it doesn't matter if they don't remember the details of specific ones. In my opinion it's about setting the backdrop to your family time as being interesting and dynamic.

I dunno. We took DD (3.5) to ZSL at some point in the last year (can't quite remember when it was last allowed/open). Tickets were - £30pp or so? Her favourite thing was sitting on a statue of an animal, and eating an ice cream. No interest at all in the animals, who tbf were quite elusive. I'm absolutely certain she'd have had an equally good time at the local park, or even at the local(ish) animal farm and aquarium. I'm not sure I'll be doing that again in a hurry.

We do lots of exciting things with her but the combination of faff+distance+expense+crowds now makes me think twice.

The other thing she does at the mo is absolutely shrieking with fear/complaining at a particular experience - e.g. lunch in a friend's garden with their placid Labrador Billy, and she is adamant that Billy is going to bite her when he has spent two hours lying belly-up in the sun - but an hour later saying, "I loved Billy, when is he coming to visit?" Drives me nuts.

I took my dc to the harry potter studio tours. Dc3 said his favourite part was going to burger king for lunch . I enjoyed it though. I have lovely memories and photos of trips to various places that the dc enjoyed but can't remember. All worth it.

I'm not saying don't do stuff, if you can afford it and you can then do, I loved seeing my kids do new things even if now they don't remember. This was a more tongue in cheek post.
However if you can't afford it then don't stress about going to the park. The best thing you can do is have time together when you can.