Exploring the world is not just fun for children, it’s a vital part of their development. And this summer, adventures come in all shapes and sizes.
It’s not just the far flung trips – it’s often the simple things. Searching in rock pools, scouting out a new playground, planting seeds and watching them grow. Here, the Citizen Enfants team and contributors share how they have adventures – big and small – with their kids.
Encouraging your children to have their own memorable, special little adventures will build confidence, and a passion to seek out new experiences as they grow. The ‘you can do it’ attitude helps create older children and teens who want to push their limits and make the most of all life. Who knows what big adventures that will lead to one day, but you’ll know where it all started.
Sheena Bhattessa, Founder of Citizen Femme and mother of two
I have fearless children (wonderful and terrifying at the same time), so adventure is always very high on the agenda – whether it’s climbing frames in parks or jumping on any water slide they can jump on. I like to explore adventure through physical development as well as mental development. Physical is through lots of play, from trampolining at FlipOut! and visiting favourite parks (Diana Memorial Playground and Tumbling Bay Playground in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park), as well as at Southbank where the street performers are ever-entertaining, it’s safe to run around and there’s a lovely shipwreck playground too. For more mental stimulation, adventure leads us to Children’s Story Centre in Stratford, the Maritime Museum in Greenwhich, and PICNIC in Kingston-upon-Thames, where children can learn about the world by acting out a wide variety of roles in everyday life, from putting out a fire to solving a crime with 10 themed play areas. As far as travels abroad, I pick one that is all beach and pools, and another that is city-led so we get to explore another culture, language, food – and all the learning that comes from travel.
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Morag Turner, Editor of Citizen Enfants and mother of three
I’ve been having adventures with my kids for over sixteen years, and while the things we do have changed, the principle stays the same. Everything is an adventure when you’re young – or it can be made to feel that way. From playing with sand for the first time or dipping the tiniest little toes in the sea, if the activity is made to feel exciting and natural (not scary or impossible), then it becomes something kids can learn to love. That thrill of doing something new and becoming braver and more willing every time they try it. With mum and dad in the background providing the safety net (often quite literally!) but constantly reassuring them that they can do it.
Over the years we have done tons of adventurous things with our kids. Skiing is right up there as one of the best, and I would encourage any parent to get their children onto the slopes from age three if possible. Regardless of the resort, book private lessons with the likes of Ski Bro or Maison Sport and you’ll see them pick up the sport quite quickly. Similarly water sports have provided endless fun. From sailing courses with the RYA from the age of eight, to surfing and getting their PADI diving qualifications, being in or on the water offers so many adventures. The little boys who used to snow plough down blue ski runs now head straight off piste; the splashing in the shallows has turned into surfing large waves; the padding in rock pools has led to coasteering and jumping off huge cliffs into the sea.
We will spend most of the summer in North Devon on the beach, but when we are back up in London I plan to take the boys to the new Formula 1 Exhibition at EXCEL where they can try out the F1 car simulator. For some actual driving adventures we will head to Young Drive where kids as young as nine can have a go at quad biking and go-carting in a safe, supervised way. Then it’s off to Hangloose Adventure Bluewater, England’s longest zip wire. For those with older children and teens one of the best things I can recommend is the Life 360 App. This lets you keep track of your kids via their phones, meaning you can give them a little bit of freedom gradually (walking to a friend’s house or to the beach), but still keep tabs on where they are. It’s great to be adventurous, but everyone also must feel comfortable and safe.
I don’t believe in wrapping kids in cotton wool. I want them to be careful, but also to take calculated risks as that’s what life is all about. I fully expect bungee jumping and sky diving will be next on my thrill-seeking eldest son’s list soon – but then I’ve had 16 years to build up to that so I’m ready and so is he.
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Alex Carello, Citizen Femme PR Director and mother of two
I like to have a variety of things planned for my girls, balancing out trips to Italy and Antigua with a British staycation and London based day camp – this means the kids never get bored and have a variety of experiences and memories. We are off to Jumby Bay and Carlise Bay in Antigua this summer, where they can play with beach toys, discover snorkelling, and go swimming with tropical fish. But I’m also planning a good staycation. This summer we are renting a little house in Dorchester with my family. A British seaside vacation filled with tea and cakes plus windblown beaches is very wholesome.
I love gardening with the children too. Kids tend not to interact enough with dirt and nature so (even in an urban setting) it’s a great thing to do. We do is burry seeds in soil in a plant pot and try to grow something (try being the operative word!). Cooking can be such an adventure for children. I am a big fan of helping them get to grips with fresh ingredients and encouraging them to understand what goes into food. My girls really enjoying making everything from carbonara to meringues. There are some great cookery classes in London for kids such as the junior classes at the Gordon Ramsay Academy.
It’s great to let kids have adventures without their parents too. We are trying out Tarka for the first time this summer for my 5-year-old. They have interactive day camps all around London. High Energy camps and classes to really give your kids the run around. So fun. The Pottery Cafe in Fulham is a super day out and also has great activity kits you can buy.
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Charlotte Kewley, kids fashion stylist, editor and mother of three
A beach day is always an adventure for my children who are three, eight and nine. We’ve booked a Bournemouth Beach Lodges hut for a few days which is the closest to camping I think we’ll ever get. They’ve been recommended by a few friends for a fun, affordable, adventurous few days away. The lodges are literally on the beach, so we’ll fill the car with bodyboards, beach accessories (I love this very pretty Liewood crabbing set and the Kidly foldaway buckets & spades are essential) and pray for sun. After which I think we might need a few days of luxury to recover – I’m hoping to tag on a night or two at Moonfleet Manor so we can be pampered while the kids make the most of the hotel’s great summer den activities, including woodland hunts, marshmallow toasting and silly science.
My favourite place in the UK for a family adventure has been Port Lympne which is the closest to a safari experience you can get in the UK. I recommend booking a night in one of the beautiful luxury lodges or treehouses and exploring in a private golf buggy. Book in for an animal feeding experience too. The giraffes were magical.
One of the best gifts we’ve ever been given for adventurous kids has been a Den Kit. Take it to a forest or field or just set up base in the garden. They also sell some great educational activity kits to encourage young imaginations – from potion making and flower press kits to entomology.
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Rebecca Cope, writer and mum of one
It’s a really magical age for my nearly-two-year-old daughter, Luna, who is so interested in everything – especially if it’s outside. One of my favourite things to do is to take her back to the same places and see how she interacts with them differently, such as our local farm or duck pond, which she’s appreciating more and more as she gets bigger. Case in point: this summer I’ll be returning to the Sunflower Maize Maze in Lichfield, which she can walk around now – last year she was strapped to me in the Artipoppe carrier – and maybe she’ll even be able to help find some of the clues. And then there’s strawberry picking at Manor Fruits Farm, which she was too small to do last year. She absolutely loves berries and getting mucky so I’m sure that will be an interesting day out. Note to self: always pack more changes of clothes than you anticipate!
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Jes Salter, writer and mother of two
The Lost Gardens of Heligan in Cornwall is a magical place to explore: there are over 200 acres filled with exotic plants, including the UK’s only outdoor jungle with a rope bridge, giant rhubarb patches, banana plantations and avenues of palms. Plus, there is a giant playground that gets added to seemingly every time you visit. If I’m ever at a lost moment, I get out our bug collecting kit to while away a few hours: we either head outside to look for real bugs, or on a wet day, I hide the toy ones in the kit and we play bug hunting.
My children are desperate to go camping because to them that is a real adventure, buy frankly, I’m not that kind of gal. But glamping I’m prepared to do. The bell tents at the Elmley Nature Reserve are beautiful, you can order cooked food (and drinks) to your tent, along with a basket of breakfast goodies for the morning, and you wake up to views of its incredible family-owned nature reserve in Kent.
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Sarah Leigh Bannerman, writer and mother of twins
My twins turned one in April, so this is the first summer that they’ve been actively exploring. Everything is an adventure to them and it’s so cute to see them experiencing the world for the first time. I’ve pinpointed a few specific things to do that I know will feel special for us as a family. The V&A Museum hosts free Sound Explorers sessions for 0-two year-olds, and the next one is scheduled for the morning of the 19th July. We’ll make a day of it and I’ll slip into the Naomi exhibit while they nap, before heading for lunch at our favourite west London spot, Jacuzzi, which is part of the Big Mamma Group. The children are really into their food at the moment, so I’ve also bookmarked Novikov in Mayfair for a rainy weekend. It’s set to host pizza-making sessions on Sundays during the school holidays and while they’re too young to craft culinary delights themselves, we’ll meet friends with older children so the adults can enjoy a glass of Italian wine while the kids are entertained in the same space.
For the perfect baby-friendly staycation, I’m excited to have booked The Grove in Hertfordshire. It packed with things for little ones to discover. The babies will love the woodland trails and there’s a pop-up beach in the walled garden, as well as an outdoor pool. Lots of adventures to be had there. I’ll be packing our Liewood swim vests and blow-up rings and we’ll book the newly opened on-site restaurant, Skewed which has a delicious-looking kids menu.
Now that they are crawling I like to buy outfits that can withstand all the climbing and rolling. Organic Zoo is always my go-to. I’ve been slotting these busy books into my handbag as the kids find them so entertaining.
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Laura Burkitt, writer, stylist and mother of two
Having spent many magical winters in the mountains, we are looking at spending summer in the Austrian Alps. Think hiking and cycling through flower filled meadows, pony-riding for the kiddies and cool dips in outdoor lakes – all be it with a nature-based kid’s club and sumptuous spa. Naturhotel Forthosgut is top of our list which has a petting farm, outdoor onsen pool and 12 hours of childcare included per day. In preparation for our active holidays, I am booking an Intensive Swim course for my 3 and 5 year olds so we will all feel that bit safer in the water, as well as a 3-day cycling course with Pedal Project who guarantee to get every child cycling on their own by the end.
My curious five-year-old daughter loves this mini microscope for studying nature up close, then carefully collecting bugs for her fun bug hotel. I have my eye on this Scavenger Hunt Kit for a way to turn those simple park or garden days into a longer adventure. We always pack Floss & Rock kits for journeys. Their Magnetic Multi-Play books are a favourite with 7 different themes to choose from.
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Any Questions or Tips to add?