Help me create a Parenting Bucket List

[TheSporkforeatingkyriarchy]

My oldest is now 9, and I got a bit of a shock a few days ago when my DP commented that DS1 is head and shoulders above the fish tank (didn't help that we'd looked at some old photos just before New Year's, one from the previous New Year where the fish tank is bigger than him). It's really creeped up on me.

As I'm in a list making mood, I thought I'd create a list of things to do with him (and his siblings - 6, 4, and 2) before they get to big and/or reach adulthood. Creating a list of things to teach them is easy (and the vast majority of results when trying to google for inspiration while my imagination is at an all time low are lists of things to teach [or expensive travel ideas] rather than things to do), but coming up with things to do together or for them to do has been trickier.

So I'm posting here hoping for some inspiration. One thing I would really like to do is to take them to a Dark Sky Park so they can really see the night sky (as we live in a city). What are some things that you want to do with yours before they're grown or that you think it would be nice if more kids got to experience?

Camping. We go a lot with friends and all the children we know love it. Preferably on a site where you can build a fire and toast marshmallows.

I was going to say camping as well. Others things could be, swimming in the sea, building a raft, climbing a mountain, getting 100 geocaches, mountain biking ......

Go on a speedboat ride up the Thames. Dig a massive hole on a beach (!), go snorkelling somewhere with lots of fish, erm....allmy ideas seem to be holiday related! Hard to think of day to day life stuff

Let them take a day off school for no reason, just once in their school career. Eg towards the end of Y6.

Work an allotment, then cook the veg.
Establish an annual treat, like breakfast at Fortnums, on a one to one basis and it become something to be looked forward to.
Geocaching.

Will be back to see other ideas...

Thank you for mentioning this! DP and I just had a talk about how we'd love to do this so I think we'll start coming up with ideas. :)

Make a great snowman - travel to find snow if none turns up!
Go rock pooling & find crabs.

Do on a 'date' with them individually. One a month, season or year depending on how it suits you or how expensive. Kid gets to pick activity and spend time just with Mum one on one...

Love the annual special trip idea mentioned to. Repetition helps really concrete those special memories.

Marking place as I love this idea

Go 'crabbing' at the seaside
Climb a mountain
Watch the sun rise
Second the day off school- do something fn though like open top bus
Go to a farm
Get a pet

Looking forward to more ideas, I have an 8yo dd and week old DS

Have you seen the '50 things to do before you're 11 3/4' list compiled by the National Trust? You can find the list here

Some of the things on the list that I used to love doing as a kid:

Camp out in the wild
Fly a kite
Pick blackberries growing in the wild
Fossil hunting on the beach
Star gazing
Find frog spawn
Cook on a campfire (sausages, marshmallows, foil baked bananas with chocolate...mmmm)

Also, I've kind of started my own bucket list for when DS is older (currently only 14 months).
The list includes local attractions and activities such as:
National Trust properties (we had some lovely picnics last summer)
Visiting farmers market/cattle auction
National Space Centre (we're in the Midlands)
Finding a bluebell wood
Eating fish and chips on the beach
Visiting a Christmas market (ideally abroad, but Nottingham, Birmingham, York and Leeds are supposed to be good)
Visiting a maize maze
Open air theatre/theatre and pantomime/concerts in general
Baking
Pick your own (used to love doing this! Don't think there as many about as there used to be unfortunately)
Yorkshire sculpture park

If you fancy camping, but with less hassle, have a look at the Canopy and Stars website
I did a quick search of places that cater for 2 adults and 4 children and there are several to pick from that look lovely e.g. here, here, here

Really looking forward to DS being a bit older so we do these things!

So many great ideas, thank you all for your input.