65 things to do with kids under five that will make them happy (and you too!)

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Inside: Discover a lovely bucket list for kids that includes 65 activity ideas that are great for children under five. Young children will love them and you will enjoy them too!

There is only a little time left before my son will turn five. And I can’t believe how fast time has gone by!

“The days are long but the years are short” – I’ve heard this quote several times before but it never felt so true as it does now! It’s my son’s last year before starting school and I feel that I want to enjoy every moment of it!

I remember that when he was a toddler this moment seemed so far away! I was so focused on keeping him safe and happy that I sometimes forgot to just slow down and enjoy our moments together.

Looking back at some of our busy days back then I wish I would just do less and enjoy him more.

In the last 2 years, I tried to be more intentional about the time we spend together and it feels so good! I want him to have many happy memories from these years and I do my best to find nice activities for us to enjoy together.

With just a few weeks felt until he turns five, I looked back at all our favorite memories from these years and I’ve decided to create a list that will hopefully inspire other parents too.

The big bucket list for kids under 5: Fun ideas that will make them happy

This bucket list for kids includes 65 activity ideas that are great for children under five. Young children will love them and you will enjoy them too!

If you have a young child I’m sure that you already did many of the activities on the list. But I’m also sure that you’ll find here some nice ideas to add to your bucket list.

Nice places to visit with young kids

1. Visit the zoo.
2. Go to an amusement park.
3. Spend a day on the beach.
4. Visit a town nearby.
5. Go to an aquarium.
6. Visit the library.
7. Go to a children’s museum.
8. Visit a local farm.
9. Go on a train ride.
10. Visit a botanical garden.

photo credit: FamVeld / shutterstock.com

Lovely activities to connect and have fun

1. Enjoy a picnic in the park.
2. Go stargazing.
3. Attend the weekly story times at a nearby library.
4. Have a family pajama party.
5. Have a family game night. (Here is a list of our favorite board games for young kids.)
6. Watch the sunset (or sunrise) together.
7. Do a random act of kindness.
8. Bake cookies together.
9. Make a homemade pizza.
10. Build a fort.
11. Read stories (and even plan a story marathon with all the child’s favorite books).
12. Do a dance party.
13. Have a tea party.
14. Listen to silly songs together.
15. Prepare a big bubble bath for your child.
16. Watch a movie together.
17. Listen to audiobooks together.

Little things that will make kids happy

1. Prepare a surprise for your child.  (Check out this list of our favorite surprise ideas.)
2. Go on a special date with your child. (Here is a list of great mom-child date ideas.)
3. Leave notes with nice drawings for your child in places where you know they will find them.
4. Create a gift or a card for a child’s friend or relative.

Nature activities for young kids

1. Go on a nature scavenger hunt. (You can download a printable nature scavenger hunt from here.)
2. Feed the birds (or other little animals).  (Here are some nice ideas to try from Happy Hooligans: 32 easy homemade bird feeders to make with kids.)
3. Collect rocks and paint them.
4. Plant some plants with your kids and watch them grow.
5. Go on a nature walk in a park or on a trail.

photo credit: Maria Sbytova / shutterstock.com

Active activities to try together

1. Go on a bike ride together.
2. Go on a hike.
3. Fly a kite.
4. Have a pillow fight.
5. Enjoy some rainy day fun (jump in puddles, dance in the rain).
6. Make an obstacle course.
7. Have a water fight.

Play ideas to enjoy with your child

1. Play hide and seek.
2. Color with sidewalk chalk.
3. Play hopscotch.
4. Play with LEGOs.
5. Do puzzles together. (You can also create homemade puzzles for your child.)
6. Play with bubbles.
7. Create a huge drawing together.
8. Paint with your fingers or do any other process art project together.
9. Play with playdough.
10. Play catch.
11. Build a sandcastle.
12. Dress up as funny characters.
13. Play “I spy” at the park.
14. Go on a scavenger hunt.
15. Do a puppet show.

photo credit: Evgeny Atamanenko / shutterstock.com

Create happy memories

1. Take a family photo shoot.
2. Go on a road trip.
3. Create a bedtime ritual that will make your child feel loved.
4. Let the child plan a morning (or an evening) and do your best to put their plan into action.
5. Create a special family handshake.
6. Create a birthday tradition to follow every year.
7. Start a journal with your child and encourage them to add drawings about their day or the things that make them happy.

The most important thing about creating a bucket list for kids

Creating a bucket list to enjoy with your kids before they turn five is a wonderful way to be a more intentional mom. And it will help you enjoy motherhood more!

But many times having a big list of activity ideas to check may have the exact opposite effect: it can make you feel guilty if you don’t get to do as many of them as you want. You get to feel like you are not doing enough. It happened to me and I don’t want this to happen to you!

The most important thing about having a bucket list is to use it as an inspiration for adding more joy to your life and your child’s life. A bucket list is not a reason to “chase” activities and put pressure on you. Enjoy the things that you get to do with your child and let go of the guilt.

Parenting is not about perfection. It’s not about who checks the most things on their bucket list. It’s about embracing imperfections and making sure that you get to enjoy your motherhood journey.

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>> Want to remember this? Share these ideas to your favorite Pinterest board!

photo credit preview photo: Sokolova Maryna / shutterstock.com

 

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