5 Simple Ways to Add Adventure and Excitement to Your Kids’ Lives!
Adventure is out there!
Human beings crave adventure. When we search for a more fulfilling job, try a new hobby, make a new friend, or plan a vacation to a new place, we are seeking adventure!
But, adventure isn’t just found in big ways. It’s out there every day, just waiting for us to see it and seek it. Seeing everyday life as an adventure can help you be more positive, live more in the moment, and appreciate the simple things that make life beautiful.
A common parenting goal these days is to attempt to foster in our kids a sense of adventure. It’s easier than you think. So, here are five simple ways to make every day an adventure!
1. Use the word "Adventure."
When we take our kids anywhere–hiking, bike-riding, a picnic, the golf course, the mall, literally anywhere–we call our day trip an adventure. Words have power, and this one creates a sense of excitement and possibility.
Think about it. “We are going to the golf store to get you a new golf club” doesn’t sound nearly as fun as “we are going on an adventure today to find you the perfect new golf club.”
Use the word, and give it context by using it in lots of situations to create a sense of fun and anticipation. My children know that when I say “we’re going on an adventure” that I mean we are going to do something fun together. They have learned to expect adventure in everyday situations. Like most things, this starts with our mindset, and our mindset often is built by the words we choose to use.
2. Give your family vehicle an adventurous name.
This might sound silly, but I have named every vehicle I ever owned. My old blue Camry was Betsy. My husband and I drove Megatron and Optimus Prime for a few years. Now, with an active family of five, we have a Volkswagen Atlas SUV and a Honda Minivan. Purposefully, we gave them adventurous names. Our Atlas is named Nautilus, after the ship in 20,00 leagues under the sea. Our van is The Odyssey. My son named it for the ship Mario uses in the video game Mario Odyssey. Since I’ve always loved teaching the Epic Poem, The Odyssey, I love it for other reasons as well.
There are so many options here. You can name your vehicle for a ship, like we did: Enterprise, Black Pearl, Jolly Roger, Millennium Falcon, etc. Or you can go with an adventurous word like journey, pathfinder, trailblazer, or wanderlust. Or name it for a character who loves adventure: Moana, Ellie or Carl, Captain Kirk, or Han Solo.
3. Let your kids choose their own adventure goals.
When you can, allow your kids to tell you what kind of adventures they’d like to have.
Our middle son loves water of all kinds. Anytime we let him choose our adventure for the day, he wants to go find a river or a waterfall. As a result, we’ve hiked just about every waterfall within 3 hours of our house.
Our oldest learned about National Parks from a documentary we watched together and now it is his goal to visit every national park in the country. We’ve visited three so far and plan to add two more to our list this summer.
Letting the kids in your life be in charge of their own adventures fosters independence. It helps them see that they aren’t just along for the ride, but they can be the navigator.
4. Use adventure "props."
A simple hike or even a walk in your local park suddenly feels like an adventure when you have a compass or a magnifying glass in your pocket. Adventure “props” are anything your kids can carry that give them something to do as you explore.
And if you don’t have objects that are typically used when investigating the outdoors, that’s okay! You could also consider using a map if you are exploring a new place. And if you are inside, like in a museum for example, a map or program will likely be provided for you. Make sure your kids have one too, and let them take the lead. Even if you are just out shopping or running errands, you can can do this. Make a list of the things you need to find and have your kids check them off as you go.
But if you want to make sure your kids are really ready for adventure, check out this post with everything you need to outfit your little adventurer.
5. Tell adventure stories in which your kids are the heroes.
We have an ongoing series of bedtime stories about our kids. We call it “The Adventures of the Harris Family.” Sometimes, we tell real stories of experiences we have had.
“One day very much like today, the three Harris children went on a hike along a river. Suddenly, they came upon an ancient stone sign. It was so old, you couldn’t read what it said. The Harris children had to investigate…”
Other times we spin fantastical tales in which our kids are the stars. We like to use the stories they are most familiar with and include characters they know. They have trained with Jedi, saved the Magic Kingdom from Maleficent, and flown to Neverland with Tinkerbell.
“Once upon a time, while playing in the sand at the beach, the Harris children looked up to see a pirate ship floating into view on the horizon. Oh no, they thought, pirates have not been seen in these waters in years, and they rarely brought anything good. It was time to take action…”
The kids love these, and we use them to remind our kids of good times we’ve had and also of their own special abilities. Our oldest is the creative one and the encourager of the group in the stories because those are things we love about him. Our middle child is usually the problem solver because he is such a sharp, logical thinker. Baby girl is a rebel and a daredevil, so she is usually the one making the bold moves when they are required.
We’ll adapt the stories as they grow and change, and we hope it makes them seek adventure and feel confident in their ability to embrace who they are and live with purpose.
“May your adventures bring you closer together, even as they take you far away from home.”
This quote comes from children’s adventure author Trenton Stewart, and this is the reason we foster a sense of adventure in our family. Anyone can have adventures. Try one of these simple ways to bring adventure into your life and the lives of your family. I hope it brings you closer. I hope it brings you joy.
What kinds of adventures does your family love? Drop a comment below to let us know!
For a Disney adventure you can have in your home, check out our Disney Day at Home post!
For a fun adventure in your backyard, see this post to learn about making memories with bird watching!
Thanks for reading! Have a good day!
Jamie
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