Fifty things to do before you’re 11¾

The National Trust aims to protect and care for nature so that it thrives and for everyone to benefit from their work looking after the UK’s coastline, historic sites, countryside and green spaces. Recent research conducted by the National Trust suggests that a child’s connection with nature drops off when they approach their teenage years. Getting young children engaged in outdoor activities is a priority not only to reap the benefits associated with their wellbeing but to ensure that they continue to develop an interest in the natural world around them into adulthood.

Statistics shared by the National Trust found that only 1 per cent of uses of the word ‘tweet’ relates to birds, with the other 99 per cent used in a non-nature context. Only 7 per cent of the use of ‘web’ refers to spiders. In the 1990s, 10 per cent of mentions of ‘stream’ meant ‘little river’, versus only 36 per cent today. Nature usage of ‘cloud’ is down nearly a quarter in three decades.

When children enjoy exploring the outdoors and caring for plants and creatures there is a benefit to their physical, social and mental development. They are also more likely to appreciate and preserve the natural world. As Sir David Attenborough states: ‘No one will protect what they don’t care about, and no one will care about what they have never experienced’.

The National Trust initiative, ‘50 things to do before you’re 11¾’, is a collection of activities, as shown in the poster above, that can be enjoyed by the whole family.

These activities challenge children and help them to develop their confidence, build their communication and language skills and encourage learning. They are low-cost or no-cost experiences that include indoor, outdoor, seasonal and home-based activities. They are also just great fun! I wish all our children, parents, staff and colleagues a very enjoyable festive break.

Dr Pamela Edmonds

Head, Parsons Green Prep