Saturday 22 February 2014

How did Tom do? (Part one)

Posted by Rosie

Wandering around some blogs recently I was reminded of the National Trust challenge "50 things to do before you are 11¾" with a fellow blogger seeing how well her children were doing.  I promptly forgot about the Challenge until another timely reminder from "Outnumbered" on the BBC this week brought me to the sudden realisation that whilst Ben has another year to get things done, Tom is now 12 and so in theory should have ticked them all off!

How has he done then?  Time to have a look and see how many he has managed:

Tree Climbing
1. Climb a tree - yes, yes, yes - although I have to say I was very glad I wasn't there when both he and Ben climbed so high up THIS tree.

2. Roll down a really big hill - erm, small slopes yes but I'm not actually sure about a really big one.  Toboggan down a steep hill, yes - ski down a black run, yes but roll - I think that's a NOPE!

3. Camp out in the wild - he's camped loads on camp sites and in friends' gardens but never out in the wild so I think this is a NOPE too!

4. Build a den - Oh yes, a current favourite activity including this Secret Den.

5. Skim a stone - yes in the sea and in various rivers including the time he fell in the river whilst concentrating so hard on stone skimming he forgot about safe feet placement! 

6. Run around in the rain - oh yes -especially this winter :)
Kite Flying

7. Fly a kite - indeed:

8. Catch a fish with a net - he's caught all sorts of other things from our ponds both here and in the UK (I reckon we had the most pond dipped tadpoles in Kent) but as far as I am aware, he's never caught a fish.  Looks like another NOPE!

9. Eat an apple straight from a tree - yes although we tend to better remember the day when aged about 4, we were at neighbours and he sneaked back to our house and ate ALL the blueberries from our bush.  Boy were we cross and boy did he have belly ache that night!  Luckily he still loved blueberries though!


Playing Conkers
10. Play conkers - yes and with slight killer tendencies it would seem!

11. Throw some snow - yes - and far too often at me!


Giant Jelly Fish on the Beach
12. Hunt for treasure on the beach - shells, seaweed, smelly dead crabs, bits of rotting fish, driftwood, beached jelly fish - that's a yes then.


So far therefore, we are looking at 9/12 which I think is a pretty decent score (and the same as Ben who still has a year to make that 13/13 before he too is older than 11¾ !).   





Are you working your way through the list too?  Do drop us a comment with your progress and watch out for a later blog to see how Tom has done on the next section of the list. 

Click here for part two, three and four.



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13 comments :

  1. Well done to Tom and Ben I'd say that's pretty impressive and a lot of fun along the way! The NT have been great in inspiring not just children but whole families to get outdoors and have lots of fun and exercise. Thanks for linking up and sharing with Country Kids.

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    1. Thank you Fiona. I used to work for the National Trust many years ago and they do such a lot of great stuff for kids of all ages.

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  2. Well done with your list so far. Love that jelly fish find!
    Thanks for linking #LetKidsBeKids

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    1. Thank you - I have not read the list for ages so cannot remember what is on it or how well he might have done. As for the jelly fish it was HUGE - by far the largest I have ever seen!

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  3. Nice job on your list. Looks like lots of fun. Some of my favorite memories are spent exploring the beach. I'll have to head over to National Trust site and take a look, I've never heard of them before. Have a wonderful week!!

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    1. It is a great list and the challenges can be done the world over,not just in the UK.

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  4. What a great challenge. I didn't know about it! Well done on the list so far - and here's to getting more of the challenge done! x

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    1. Do have a look at the list - it's great for children of all ages ... up to and OVER 11 ¾ !! I'm sure ours will love it.

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  5. Fantastic! Sounds like he's doing really well!!

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    1. He is isn't he - I have no idea what is on the next part of the list so I'll be interested to know how he/we have got on.

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  6. While I try not to stress myself out too much about not hitting certain targets, this list is so thrilling and exciting and I'm pleased to say that our children have done quite a few of these things already- but there are a few challenges in there we could aim for. I think it's about time we get out and fly our kites. That is fantastic!

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    1. I don't often try to tick things of lists like this and in fact I haven't looked at this one since I first read it ages ago - these are things that as a family we get up to anyway and I thought it would be interesting to see how he/we have managed now he is 12.

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  7. Excellent ... we are desperate to complete, we have another 8 years yet so hopefully we'll do it at least twice over! Although some of the tasks really are for an older child, so that's something to look forward to! #50things

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