While clearing out a kitchen drawer the other day I found a newspaper clipping from The Daily Telegraph dated 12 January 2012. The clipping was a list of 36 things that every child under three should do. Reading the list again I found myself laughing and nodding so, while I can’t take credit for the original list, I thought I’d share it in case it inspires other parents / carers / aunts / uncles / sisters / brothers / anyone who works with toddlers. Here we go:
Fibs to fairies – every child under three should …
- Make a mud pie
- Bake a cake
- Finger paint
- Sing loudly in public
- Climb a big hill
- Have a “first love”
- Dance with no inhibitions
- Build sandcastles
- Be chased by a monster
- Jump in a puddle so hard the water goes in mummy’s shoes too
- Do a belly flop
- Feed the ducks
- Blow bubbles
- Have a teddy bears’ picnic
- Choose a favourite book
- Ride on the top deck of a double decker bus
- Visit a museum
- Go on a train ride
- Feed an animal
- Grow cress in the shape of their name
- Wear pants on their head
- Ride the tea cups at the fair
- Make and fly a paper aeroplane
- Poo in the bath
- Stay the night away from home
- Ride on daddy’s shoulders
- Scribble somewhere they shouldn’t
- Clean their own teeth
- Answer the phone
- Master a party piece
- Pick fruit
- Buy something in a shop
- Set their sights on a future career (pirate or fairy, perhaps?)
- Tell a fib
- Make up an inappropriate nickname for someone
- Break something valuable
Did we complete the fibs to fairies list?
With the exception of no. 24 (!) what I love about this list is that it advocates a spirit of adventure, curiosity, and independence for young children. Sometimes I think it’s hard to remember that toddlers are always seeing things for the first time so anything we can do to encourage and inspire them to find out about life for themselves has to be a great thing. Flora is seven now and I’m really chuffed to realise that she’s ticked off everything on the list (including no. 24, although not all by the age of three). 🙂
What do you think of this fibs to fairies list? Do you agree with all of them? Have you managed any of them with children? How many did you accomplish when you were a toddler? I can think of quite a few more ideas I’d like to add to this list but maybe I’ll save those for a future post!
I absolutely love this post it’s such a cute idea! I wish my parents had done something like this for me when I was a child x
Kayleigh Zara ?www.kayleighzaraa.com
Oh thank you! I thought it was such a good idea I had to blog about it ? x
I work with kids this age and it’s a fab idea! Your so right with most of them for sure!! Such a good read!
Thank you! I hope it’s something Flora will take on board if and when she has children, I think it’s so important that toddlers get their hands dirty, so to speak 🙂 Thank you for your lovely comment!