As adults, it’s lovely to reflect back on the type of childhood memories that give us a warm, fuzzy feeling. These are memories that still bring joy when we think about them, even years later. They’re often memories of events and special moments shared with parents and siblings, in times of wonder and togetherness. Sometimes, they might be of a family adventure of some kind — a holiday somewhere wild, an unforgettable activity, or a magical moment that’s simply so wonderful we’ll never forget it. We can think of such memories as almost foundational parts of our childhoods, very much akin to milestones in the progression of our growth as children. These moments are irreplaceable. With that in mind, we’ll explore some ideas today for how to gift your own children such wonderful memories — moments they’ll remember fondly — perhaps for the rest of their lives. What a gift that would be!
Going on An Adventure
Children’s ears will always prick up when you tell them they’re going on an adventure! These can take many forms, so they are limited only by your imagination, time, and resources as a parent. Need an example? Try taking them on a ramble or hike. Take a picnic! Take rucksacks, suitable footwear, wet weather gear (just in case), something to drink, and a smartphone with a camera for any photos. Maybe first show them a map of where you plan to walk with them. Aim for some interesting places. Viewpoints, interesting landmarks, beautiful countryside, woodlands, and riverside walks are good examples, and will give children something to look forward to on the journey. Ensure there is somewhere to stop for food, drinks, and/or snacks along the way. Maybe build in some activities or games en route too. All such things will make for a really memorable day. Even if they find it hard at first, they will end up with lots of fresh air and exercise, a feeling of accomplishment, and some great memories.
Cloud Magic
Next time it’s sunny, and you and your child are out and about in the garden or open space, look out for the big fluffy, white ‘cumulus’ clouds. If there are some gently gliding across the sky, encourage your child to lie on their back, look up, and study them (avoiding looking directly at the sun, of course). Many of these enormous clouds are quite beautiful. Even better, there’s a game you can play together — looking for cloud animal shapes, faces, or even dragons and monsters in the clouds. Such shapes sometimes form naturally as the clouds shift and change formation on the winds high above us. There is even a name for this type of illusion; pareidolia, although it applies to seeing faces and shapes anywhere, not just in clouds. Searching for and finding an animal or face, whether in the clouds, the bark of a tree, or on a rocky formation, is sure to delight any child. It will be something they’re likely to remember and repeat throughout childhood and even into adulthood. Indeed, it’s another magical aspect of childhood and the world around us.
A Magical Sunset
Setting aside 30 to 60 minutes specifically to witness a sunset with your child is also something that can be magical. It’s also an incredibly simple but powerful activity to do with children. Some sunsets are truly awe-inspiring, with incredible colours, cloud patterns, and shapes that look like they’re something from a fantasy movie or book. If the timing is right, children can even see the distant sun slowly disappear over the horizon as dusk and then nighttime arrive. It is a beautiful thing to witness, and it also teaches children more about the world and our place within the universe. It will be a lovely memory of shared, high-quality family time too, and will also demonstrate to little ones that some of the most magical activities cost no money at all, and do not involve toys or electronic screens.
Safety note: teach children never to look directly at the sun and always accompany and supervise them when outdoors.
A Last-Minute Getaway
Surprise your little ones with a last-minute getaway. Editor’s note: My father did this for us a few times each year when my sister and I were children. He’d come home from work on a Friday evening and excitedly ask the family, “Who wants to go away for the weekend?” and my sister and I would shout, “We do!” with great gusto. We’d quickly pack, and off we’d go. By Friday night, we’d arrive at a campsite, or sometimes a random spot en route, and sleep like babies. After spending the weekend visiting our favourite places, we’d arrive back on Sunday night feeling like we’d been away for a week. Those are still some of my fondest childhood memories. And, it’s the kind of exciting last-minute break that doesn’t cost the Earth and is huge fun — something we could all do for our children occasionally, perhaps.
Garden Camping
If going away for a last-minute short break is not feasible, camping in the garden may be the next best thing! Children’s imaginations are incredible; even if they’re camped in the garden, it’s every bit an adventure for them. You should sleep out there with little ones, of course, and supervise their safety and wellbeing. That can help it become more exciting for them, though, as you can supervise a small bonfire, perhaps, where you can all toast some marshmallows or bread, away from the tent (it could be flammable) and ensure it’s damped down afterwards for safety. Some torches, sleeping bags, packed sandwiches, and hot chocolate or similar in a flask will make the camp more realistic, but the house is always there if they get spooked and ask to go back indoors. Garden camping is also the perfect opportunity for our next activity idea…
Stargazing
On a clear, cloudless night, stargazing somewhere away from neighbourhood lights will open children’s eyes to the magic of the nighttime sky. Even if you spend just 5 or 10 minutes together watching the night sky, you’re bound to bring out the wonder of space in your child’s mind. The Moon, twinkling stars, the little star tinged red (Mars), the pan-shaped form of the Plough (a.k.a. ‘Big Dipper’), and helping your child find the North Star are all things they’ll find fascinating and remember longer-term. Stay watching long enough for them to see little satellites marching their way across the darkness as they loop around the world, nowadays often in the company of others in a satellite ‘constellation’. Even better: help your child spot their first shooting star — and make a wish. Magical!
Discovering Their First Fossil
There are many places around England and the UK where fossils can be found if you/your children take the time to look for them. Children love it when they find them (as do many adults), and it’s always incredible to see their reactions when you tell them that this fossilised creature or plant they just found lived literally millions of years ago. It puts things into perspective and opens their eyes and minds to the wonders of Planet Earth and even life itself. Not only that, they have a magical keepsake to remind them of their fossil hunt(s). Try Googling good fossil-hunting locations near you, or visit this site and click a local region on the coloured map to get started. Parental supervision over children is, of course, essential at all times with all activities, especially for the youngest children and outdoors.
Nature Watching
Children are naturally fascinated by the world around them — and especially the natural world. The UK is lucky to be a lush environment with lots of flourishing flora and fauna. So, for little ones, there is so much to see and discover. That’s one of the many reasons we will soon be providing Forest School sessions at Little Acorns Nursery in Hindley Green, in fact. It’s also why we’ve published various nature-based scavenger hunt activity ideas here on this website. So, another interesting, informative, educational, and memorable activity that will enrich your child’s childhood is a nature-based scavenger hunt. Check out our leaf hunt, spring nature hunt, winter treasure hunt, autumn nature hunt, or take them mammal-spotting, minibeast-spotting, bird-spotting, or butterfly-spotting. These activities are all designed for families, and each comes with a free reference poster to get children started. Perhaps spend a few hours with your child doing some of these next time the weather is suitable. They’re sure to remember them and think fondly of their time spent looking for all these magical things. Spending time in and around nature is also hugely beneficial to children, and it’s a great way for them to slow down, take in the beauty of nature away from electronic screens, and create high-quality family memories.
Bedtime Storytime
Let’s not forget that magical memories can be made indoors, too! Reading books to children before they go to bed can build lasting memories. Editor’s note: My own children, now in their late twenties, still recall me reading to them every night, as we gradually worked through all the Harry Potter books. This was before they had started making the movies, and I made sure to put on different voices for different characters, whisper when there was a tense moment, or speak more urgently when Harry Potter was in mortal danger. They loved it! And now they’re parents themselves, they’re paying it forwards and reading books in a similar way for their own children. And, not only were those book-reading sessions “an integral part of their childhood” (they tell me), but they’re also incredibly good memories for me, as a parent. It really was magical on so many levels, so it is thoroughly recommended.
Music & Song
Editor’s note: Another thing my own children remember fondly was singing songs each evening with me when they were very young. These were home-spun songs that we made up as we went along, sung together near bedtime most evenings, along with some basic guitar playing. It was both entertaining and amusing as we took it in turns to make up new, often silly, verses. What’s more, my children described it recently as a ‘free concert every night’, and it’s lovely that they remember it so clearly and fondly over two decades later. So, regularly playing musical instruments and singing together is highly recommended and highly creative for all parties. And, who knows where it could lead — a possible career in music, perhaps!
Magical Memories Are Like Gold Dust
We hope you’ve enjoyed our ideas today for creating magical memories for your child. They’re just a starting point, though, to inspire new ideas for families. When high-quality memories are made, they can last a lifetime. Children may well look back on them as integral parts of their childhood, and instantly be transported back in time as they recall them. Such memories can bring togetherness, as well as a warm, fuzzy glow. What’s most important, though, is that the proactive creation of such memorable times lets children know that their happiness is important, they matter, are loved, and, all in all, it really is a wonderful world.
Welcome to Little Acorns Nursery, Hindley Green
High-Quality Childcare Provision Near Wigan
Little Acorns is a fabulous Nursery in Hindley Green, near Wigan. Providing high-quality weekday childcare, from 7:30 am to 6:00 pm over 51 weeks of the year, we represent a great choice for working families. What’s more, we support free childcare for eligible children. We’re also pleased to announce that we’ll soon also be providing Forest School sessions to children at the setting. These are hugely popular and allow children to get the most from close proximity to nature and woodland settings. We’ll soon publish more about Forest School at Hindley Green, here on the blog, so come back soon for our imminent announcement and more detail about this wonderful initiative.
Interested? Apply for a nursery place, ask any questions, or come for a guided visit using an option below:
Little Acorns Nursery is located in Hindley Green. And, if you live in Wigan, Bolton, Bickershaw, Leigh, Atherton, Westhoughton, Ince-in-Makerfield, Platt Bridge, Tyldesley, or Greater Manchester, Little Acorns may also be a very convenient choice for your childcare.
With free tutorials available on YouTube and inexpensive instruments available in charity shops, phone apps and online marketplaces, there has never been a better time for children to start learning a musical instrument. It’s something for every parent to consider because such a pastime will benefit their child in an incredible variety of ways. Not only will they learn a new skill that will stay with them for life, but their lives will be enriched in many additional ways too. So, today, we take a look at the often profound benefits of learning a musical instrument, especially for young children. We’ll start with the three most obvious benefits before coming to many others that may surprise you.
Playing all these notes in a certain order, sometimes in isolation and at other times as chords and progressions, will do wonders for a child’s coordination and fine motor skills. Although perhaps tricky at first, with practice and ‘muscle memory’, children’s ability to master the playing of musical sequences, chords, melodies and rhythms will gradually become easier and easier. Before long, it’ll become second nature to them.
In a similar way, children who learn a musical instrument will usually, of course, also be learning to read printed music. While this comes in different forms, it all encourages children to concentrate on the reading process. Specifically, they’re learning to read from left to right, to analyse the printed music detail and to make sense of it. It’s another great workout for the brain, and we’ll say more about that next.
Playing a musical instrument often goes hand-in-hand with collaboration. Whether it’s forming a band, taking part in a school orchestra, writing songs with friends or simply jamming out together, children of all ages will naturally play together given the opportunity. As such, it’s a natural socialiser and one that brings children of different ages together, with new friendships being formed through a common interest. That is a very healthy thing. It also teaches children a wide variety of social skills including communication (e.g. speaking and listening at appropriate times), collaboration, being mindful of the needs of others, waiting your turn and so on.
Music itself is also a great antidote to stress and other emotions. Giving children the tools to appreciate music — and even involve themselves in it — will help with their mental well-being as it can calm them when they’re stressed, relax them when they’re tired or even give them an energy boost when they need to get active. Ask any runner! All they need is the right piece of music and half the mental battle is already complete.
With all these benefits, it’s highly worthwhile for children to start learning a musical instrument as young as possible. It’s easy to start them, for example with simple instruments like drums, triangles, and tambourines initially. With these simple instruments, very young children can learn to keep time to music or a beat a rhythm demonstrated by adults. They can then progress to more advanced instruments such as recorders, keyboards, and stringed instruments. They have to start somewhere, though, but it’s never too early to start! Mozart was just 3 when he began to learn piano playing. By 5 he had composed a whole concerto! Who knows; perhaps your child could be a star in the making!
