Fun things you had/did with your kids

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My kids are older now but they remind me of or remember fun things I did for/with them as kids. It makes me very happy that they have those memories.

A few they've recently brought up.
Big snow - All the dad's got together and built them a huge snow chute for riding sleds. About 250' long with obstacles, including dogs that wanted to nip at them in a friendly manner as trying to protect them as they flew down the hill.

I bought a rubber weather balloon. A big one. No idea why. I blew it up to around a 12 foot diameter and let them use it as a ball. They're about 3' tall so kicking or tackling a ball 12' was just awesome to them.

We live in the country so ATV's are a way of life and transportation. They got their first (battery operated) around 3 years-old. They got gas ATV's when they turned 6. They would drive them constantly. We had about a 1/5 mile track with 2 creek crossings. They loved it and came home completely covered in mud.

What say you?
 
Sometime around Thanksgiving, we made bird-feeders - the kind w/ PB and birdseed on a pine cone or bagel.
For St. Valentine's Day, we had an advent. They each had a mailbox in the kitchen and each morning, there was a treat in it. On St. V day, a real Valentine.
 
I loved spending time with our kids when they were young. We had five, and husband worked ALOT, and traveled, too. I homeschooled our oldest three, and we always had a blast with the curriculum. Still remember the Lewis and Clark curriculum that we "lived". Did Boy Scouts for the boys, Girl Scouts and Indian Maidens with the girls. There was always something going on in our house. We camped alot, did family 5K's, cooked together. Funny, I don't remember a whole lot of tv time, and of course computer, video games and cell phones weren't an issue. We'd always have a book going for a read aloud. Roald Dahl was a favorite, children's Bible stories, and Little House books. One of our daughters just mentioned the other day, that when dad was traveling, we would do Taco Bell night, pancake night, dessert before dinner night....we made alot of couch cushion forts, always had alot of animals. Flashlight tag in the dark, water balloons.
 
we did fun stuff with the kids all the time ( I posted some photos on various threads on here) , lots of camping trips all over the US, plus trips to other countries. We went to the theme parks all the time ( had season passes) to go on rides, went to the springs to go floating, went to the beach, hiking and skiing/snowboarding in winter
We also took them to the gun club for target practice . We had lots of large birthday parties for them also including a pony ride in the backyard one time (downtown Orlando )
I used to go to concerts with my daughter also. Went to Tampa with her and saw the very last Motley Crue concert. Husband doesn't like the same music we like ( rock/metal) and son wasn't old enough. We all did go see Nightwish right before we moved here son and husband too.
 
We have four kids and we all did everything together.
*Hiked up Hurricane Ridge in the Olympics (Washington State)
*Animal farm Sequim, WA.
*Drive from Seattle to Disneyland to West Texas (one set of grand parents) to Minneapolis (other set of grand parents) and back to Washington.
*Wine tasting in Woodinville, WA wineries (after they were all over 21 years old)
*Drive from Anchorage to Seattle in winter.
*Dinner theater in Denver
*And now, with the "kids" living in Japan, Seattle, Wichita, Baltimore ... we like to do Elfster at Christmas and gather on Zoom and in between that we gather on Zoom to play Jackbox games.

We are a close knit family and have become close friends with the parents and other family members of our kids' spouses. They married into fantastic families.
 
Amish Heart said:
I loved spending time with our kids when they were young. We had five, and husband worked ALOT, and traveled, too. I homeschooled our oldest three, and we always had a blast with the curriculum. Still remember the Lewis and Clark curriculum that we "lived". Did Boy Scouts for the boys, Girl Scouts and Indian Maidens with the girls. There was always something going on in our house. We camped alot, did family 5K's, cooked together. Funny, I don't remember a whole lot of tv time, and of course computer, video games and cell phones weren't an issue. We'd always have a book going for a read aloud. Roald Dahl was a favorite, children's Bible stories, and Little House books. One of our daughters just mentioned the other day, that when dad was traveling, we would do Taco Bell night, pancake night, dessert before dinner night....we made alot of couch cushion forts, always had alot of animals. Flashlight tag in the dark, water balloons.
Click to expand...
Computers and cell phones weren't an issue when I home schooled my younger 3, but they did have computers by then and I thought I would give them a typing course. I got the books and started them and discovered I was too late. Their typing skills were already set and they could type very fast in their own way. I decided not to disrupt that.

When I was a child my dad wouldn't allow me to touch his typewriter until I took a typing class. I think that was wise. I am the only one in the family who watches the screen while I type. Some of them are faster than I am, but I do it right. (nah, I'm the fastest)
😏
 
Lots of snow time. Too poor to go snow skiing.
Ocean at least once a year, a 3 hour drive, over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. Camped once at the Outer Banks with five of them. Rented a place another time there. Lots of water and inflatable boat time. Got out before a hurricane.
Day trips to Skyline Drive, VA. and the mountain parks in MD. Encounters with lots of wildlife. Camped there too when our family was small.
Busch Gardens was a blast (VA). At Christmas time we'd go to the Visitor's Center in Kensington, MD that our church has, always enjoyed that.
National Aquarium in Baltimore. Museums in DC and Baltimore; we'd usually stop on the way home for pizza.
I homeschooled my kids too and we did trips to orchards, farms, and seasonal festivals.
@Bacpacker , as long as you did and continue to do fun stuff with your wife, that is what matters. You are probably very important to nieces and nephews.
My aunt and uncle had one child they adopted who was a bit older than me and when she was no longer going places with them, they took me camping, water skiing, shopping, taught me a lot about hard work and business.
 
I used to always love the family trips to Barnes & Noble. We had always told our kids, "If you want a book, we will buy it for you." It was such a treat to watch the smiles on their faces as they gleefully ran into the store to find that perfect book (or books).

When I used to go on business trips, I would always bring a gift back for the kids. One one trip to San Francisco, I found a giant toy store. Was it "FAO Schwarz" possibly? I'm thinking that was it. The store was multiple stories high. One giant toy store. I was looking for stuffed animals on that trip, and the store had an entire floor dedicated to that. So I came home with some rare ones - a platypus and a hedgehog. The kids loved those things, because they had never seen anything so unique.
 
They are just 30, 32 this weekend...and 34...and I sure do miss some "little kid stuff"....

Lots of stuff. I'm actually emotional thinking about it. We lived rurally...so..."we were it". I pretty much raised them by myself....

We had this small, strongly made, plastic cattle trough...6' across. I'd put it in our waterway in a grotto and spin them around. Afterwards, we'd blow up the model navy ships we built with M-80's in 'em...which blew away all the little dinosaur figures in the way!

Yeah...and me "herding cattle" with a slingshot had them in stitches...because we hid where the mooers couldn't figure out where the stings were coming from.

They're all great young men, now. Oldest and youngest live here...middle kid's married and not too far away. My treasures, for sure.

Sniff....
 
Fun things we did as a kid
Climb trees
Walk the rails on the train track
Fish
Crab
When Ivwas about 12. I spent a year building army models, I had 1/2 track s
Jeeps, planes. And lots of army men
My brother and I set up a battle field with all of our models and men
Then blew it all to hell with fire crackers and gas in ballon bombs
We had a blast
Neither side survived. Lol
Put pennies on the r r track

I used to layin a porch swing
And talk to bob whites for hours

Jump out of a hay loft door. That was insane but it was fun
I used to run barefoot in a gravel road
Stub a toe and run somemore
 
When the kids were young (3, 7, & 9); about every 3 months we would have a bug-out night, about a week before we would lead up to the event by checking everyone's bug out bag, looking at what was in it and updating anything that was outdated or out grown, followed by a discussion of the meet-up location (it was a park about 4 blocks from the house).

Around 4PM on the bug-out night we would grab our bags and walk to the park (we used a wagon for the littlest). Once at the park we would all make dinner using what was in the bug out bags (each bug out bag had something to cook with). After we were done eating we would play a bit and then walk home at sunset. Once home we would talk about the meal and the kids would tell us what they liked and didn't like. Based on the results, over the next week the bug out bags were updated and everything was cleaned, refueled, and placed in their proper location; ready to go again at a moment's notice.

We all learned a lot and as we gathered more equipment our bug-out nights were converted to camping weekends. That was over 30 years ago, but when everyone gets together the bug-out nights get talked about as being a really fun time.
 
UrbanHunter said:
When the kids were young (3, 7, & 9); about every 3 months we would have a bug-out night, about a week before we would lead up to the event by checking everyone's bug out bag, looking at what was in it and updating anything that was outdated or out grown, followed by a discussion of the meet-up location (it was a park about 4 blocks from the house).

Around 4PM on the bug-out night we would grab our bags and walk to the park (we used a wagon for the littlest). Once at the park we would all make dinner using what was in the bug out bags (each bug out bag had something to cook with). After we were done eating we would play a bit and then walk home at sunset. Once home we would talk about the meal and the kids would tell us what they liked and didn't like. Based on the results, over the next week the bug out bags were updated and everything was cleaned, refueled, and placed in their proper location; ready to go again at a moment's notice.

We all learned a lot and as we gathered more equipment our bug-out nights were converted to camping weekends. That was over 30 years ago, but when everyone gets together the bug-out nights get talked about as being a really fun time.
Click to expand...
Yep, we went camping :). Mom never went along unless Dad put the big tent in the car :p. pretty sure with 5 kids she liked the time off.
 
Frodo said:
Fun things we did as a kid
Climb trees
Walk the rails on the train track
Fish
Crab
When Ivwas about 12. I spent a year building army models, I had 1/2 track s
Jeeps, planes. And lots of army men
My brother and I set up a battle field with all of our models and men
Then blew it all to hell with fire crackers and gas in ballon bombs
We had a blast
Neither side survived. Lol
Put pennies on the r r track

I used to layin a porch swing
And talk to bob whites for hours

Jump out of a hay loft door. That was insane but it was fun
I used to run barefoot in a gravel road
Stub a toe and run somemore
Click to expand...
Dang guys. I guess I did not have my glasses on. I answered this as
Fun things you did as a kid
 
I asked my son to write down some of his best childhood memories. His list was pretty long. Here's a few.
Getting his boating license at age 13.
Climbed Diamondhead at age 7 (before there were any fences or rails).
Walked on Kiloaha volcano when it was active.
Swam with (and had on his back) stingrays.
Running go-carts at a national track.
Running jet skis in the Gulf of Mexico with dolphins at his side.
Riding in a submarine.
Skydiving (when he was of age).
Getting kicked out of 2 casinos in Vegas for being on the gambling floor while underage.
 
We lived off grid...160 acres with beefalo on it. They were in "little school"...K, 1st and 3rd grades. After school...clean up and get a snack. Then, ranch chores...nothing difficult...ending for dinner time. Homework then MUSIC. Little drum set...little guitars...key synth. Before bed...dial up internet game with Spiro The Dragon. A year later...I was SHOCKED to hear them...of themselves...figure out and play the theme. Yeah, it was shaky. Terrible, really...but...they were 6, 7 and 8!!! I was sooooo proud. Soooo proud. Today, they're all pros. I'll try to find it...BRB:

 
Great thread! I've four children, and when they were young I minded neighbors children, so there was always about ten children here. They made up plays, got dressed up, 'hunted' in the woods and had lots of picnics. In the winter I got them to do crafts and practice for school shows
We never went on holidays when they were small, just the odd night away, so I would always fit in a museum or a visit to a castle- they all like history. Once the Tutankhamen exhibition came to the Millennium Dome in London, so we left the house at 2am, took a flight over, visited it and the Natural History Museum, walked the legs off them and took them on their first train journey, then flew home. We got stuck on the runway for two hours because of a lightening storm, which was amazing to watch, and got home at 2am.
I think if you were to ask, it was the 'camp-outs' they enjoyed most, when their friends would have sleepovers in our field the summer, either sleeping out on the trampoline or in tents. No one around here did that kind of thing, so they were always popular with other peoples children, and when I meet them now they still talk about it.
 
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