How to make the last few years of childhood extra special for my child

[LetterBug]

My Ds is nearly 9 so is in the last bit of childhood. 2 maybe 3 years left of innocence. 2 year left of school.
Can anyone share their bucket list ideas for childhood?
I want a list to check off. I feel time is running out!

As a pp said, don't focus on #making memories - it's too forced and life will be passing you by whilst you do that. Our stand-out memory from last Christmas was the failed choux pastry which was put into a compost bag, but never made it to the bin, as it made an excellent hat to pass around. We didn't see that coming!

@LetterBug is there anything in particular that has prompted this urge to 'make the most' of their childhood years?

2 more years of school? Is your child Sheldon Cooper?? If not, try not to worry you have plenty more years ahead.

You can’t force memories into kids. They remember what they remember.

I took my kids back to UK 3 years ago, and of all the places they remember first, it was Southwater Park near to where my parents live because it had a huge zip line!

No matter what, they’re best and fondest memories have DH and I in them no matter where we are.

We've done loads of adventures and trips with the kids but they don't remember any of it really. I would say that the things they have appeared to value the most are (1) having a dog or a pet they can really care for; (2) me and their Dad playing games with them ; (3) reading to them .

I clicked thinking 'brilliant, I need ideas for my 15 and 16 year olds' - honestly OP don't worry, they have a lot of childhood left!!

Getting a dog 2.5 years ago really added a lot to my DCs' childhood, thats my best tip (but only if you actually also want a dog).

Journalist

We’ve been to lots of places and had loads of adventures but my dc light up when I sit and build lego, or watch them play on their iPads and explain their games to me, or teach me to build in minecraft, or just sit and watch an episode of Pokémon.

My son is only going on 10 months, but when I look back on my own childhood it's not the planned activities that stand out. It's:

My Dad chasing us around huge bushes, pretending to be a monster, in the freezing cold.

Having buckets of cold water chucked on us in the summer, and squealing at them to do it again.

Singing old songs on the long walk home after a day in the park.

Fish and chips/Sayer's cheese and onion pasties while Christmas shopping.

Being taught about different plants by my gardener Dad.

The smell of homemade vegetable soup of a cold winter morning. Dad would make it early so we could tuck in when we got home from a day out hiking.

Reading Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and His Dark Materials together.

...see what I mean? I could literally go on all day. And these memories go way into adulthood, too, they're just a little different. Don't worry.

Every child and every family different but mine love it when you just do something stupid and random, so saying tonight we are having "party food" for tea, (apparently best tea I have ever made) and we all had a lovely time dancing about the kitchen after.

My Ds is nearly 9 so is in the last bit of childhood. 2 maybe 3 years left of innocence. 2 year left of school.

2 years left of school for a 9 year old?

Where are you planning to send him - up chimneys?

Sounds like a lot of pressure. I tend to think that since my children have: a safe home to live in; two parents and extended family that love them to bits; a decent school to be educated in; light, warmth, clean running water at their disposal; and are growing up in a place where war, famine, violence etc are extremely rare events, their childhoods are already pretty special. All the rest is cherry on the top.

Efteling, efteling efteling.

@FolkyFoxFace

My son is only going on 10 months, but when I look back on my own childhood it's not the planned activities that stand out. It's:

My Dad chasing us around huge bushes, pretending to be a monster, in the freezing cold.

Having buckets of cold water chucked on us in the summer, and squealing at them to do it again.

Singing old songs on the long walk home after a day in the park.

Fish and chips/Sayer's cheese and onion pasties while Christmas shopping.

Being taught about different plants by my gardener Dad.

The smell of homemade vegetable soup of a cold winter morning. Dad would make it early so we could tuck in when we got home from a day out hiking.

Reading Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and His Dark Materials together.

...see what I mean? I could literally go on all day. And these memories go way into adulthood, too, they're just a little different. Don't worry.

That's so true. I remember burying my dad in the sand, decorating sandcastles, getting the bus home from the coast, exhausted. I remember him teaching me how to light a fire, baking cakes with my mum, making paper cut out dolls with her. My parents were very relaxed. they allowed us to do lots of things. they weren't bothered about an immaculate house. It was full of plants I was growing from seed or pets and wild injured animals being nursed to health. These are the main memories.

The good stuff I remember from mine being young:

Disney world
Holidays with extended family
Theme parks
Beach trips and holiday
Country parks
Adventure playgrounds
Padding in a River/ making dams
Fishing
Climbing a big hill
Zoo
Safari park
Seeing other cities
Attending weddings
Pet
Decorating their room
BBQs
Halloween
Bonfire night
Funfairs
Boat trips
Cycling
Picnics
Seeing the milky way
Camping
Sleepovers

Fuck's sake, he's not about to die. "Only two more years of innocence". And then what? You'll shove him on a phone and not talk to him anymore?

He's a child. He doesn't need a Facebook list of dorky activities for you to post that you're 'making memories', he needs a sensible parent that doesn't fetishise babyhood and denigrate young teens as somehow 'lesser'.