Remember the 50 things to do before you're 11 and 3/4?
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Have you ever heard of 50 things to do before you're 11 and 3/4?
It's a list that has been put together by the National Trust to get kids (and we're all young at heart) outdoors and connecting with nature.
So with the summer coming up, I thought I'd remind you about them, because they could be a great way to get the kids doing something in the summer holidays other than looking at a screen. Some would be great to do if you're on holiday in a new environment where things might be different to how they are at home.
No 23 - get up for the sunrise
When was the last time you've done this? Listen to the dawn chorus at the same time!
There are 50 things, and a lot of them can be done without leaving your home, such as stargazing, keeping a nature diary (what can you see out of the window in the sky, or on a walk to the shops?) and getting to know a tree.
No 43 - help a wild animal
You could put out some water in a bowl for wildlife.
Please make sure you give wildlife a way out of the bowl, in case they are really tiny!
Many of the 50 things don't require any spending - such as get up for the sunrise, or go cloud watching - and they could be great for the kids to build up in a folder over the summer holidays so that that can look back and see what they've done with nature whilst they were off school.
No 48 - keep a nature diary
You could do drawings, write poetry, do some fact finding about birds you've seen,
write about what you've seen, write your thoughts about nature and wildlife...
almost like a nature diary.
The National Trust have put the list together - you can see it here - and they have also got safety information for you too.
However old we all are, there are times when it's good to escape from adult life with its responsibilities, and just go back to things kids love to do. The National Trust's 50 things to do before you're 11 and 3/4 is a good place to start, and create lots of connections to the natural world.