tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5793116735725005642.post7893352387127902775..comments2023-10-28T14:55:42.252+01:00Comments on A Yummy Mummy? Really?: The National Trust: 50 things to do before you're 11 3/4 years oldUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5793116735725005642.post-54162723754748405062013-02-26T11:25:35.243+00:002013-02-26T11:25:35.243+00:00It would be a mistake to take this list as a criti...It would be a mistake to take this list as a criticism of modern parenting in the UK, or to read it too prescriptively. It is providing a picture of 'real childhood' and it is well worth reminding ourselves that virtually every child of that age, in the correct context, would find most of the items on that list exciting and adventurous. It is up to us to make sure that we provide the context within which each child can experience and enjoy at least some of those activities.<br /><br />Modern life does tend to militate against this however and many children, for a wide variety of reasons, will not be able to tick of anywhere near as many of those items as they would like to.<br /><br />It is a sad fact that, whilst in France, and in the USA attendance on residential 'summer camps' for children is common, and the activities listed by the National Trust will play a significant part of their programme, in the UK such camps are virtually unknown, and it is difficult to avoid the conclusion that UK children are missing out on some very valuable educational experiences as a result.<br /><br />In the 1960s and 70s, a UK organisation called 'Colony Holidays' briefly popularised the French model of Summer Camps with great success, and children were encouraged by trained young adults, working as enthusiastic volunteers, to engage in the sort of activities promoted by the National Trust, and to leave behind the trappings of a modern society for just a short while.<br /><br />A much smaller organisation known as Active Training and Education is still doing this with their incredible 'Superweeks' and one can only hope that this timely campaign by the National Trust will help their cause.<br />Barry Walmsleyhttp://www.ate.org.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5793116735725005642.post-83022197252075194132012-04-16T23:11:06.152+01:002012-04-16T23:11:06.152+01:00Not for the joy of discovery then eh?! Never mind;...Not for the joy of discovery then eh?! Never mind; there are another 49 activities to go at. :-)Louisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05777201989424159161noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5793116735725005642.post-10043700231862295332012-04-15T17:38:59.441+01:002012-04-15T17:38:59.441+01:00I only knew what a geocache was because a friend o...I only knew what a geocache was because a friend of mine does it, but I still looked it up just to find out exactly what it is. I showed the boy, who read the website and declared that he had no interest in finding a 'treasure' if he didn't get to keep the treasure and it wasn't valuable or edible. Kid's got a point :-DAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5793116735725005642.post-76388149087393082772012-04-14T23:10:29.931+01:002012-04-14T23:10:29.931+01:00You did better than me then! I hope you have fun ...You did better than me then! I hope you have fun outdoors. Let me know which he tries. :) <br /><br /><br />By the way... does any know what a geocache is 'without' looking it up?Louisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05777201989424159161noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5793116735725005642.post-36701642294283432002012-04-14T09:44:37.941+01:002012-04-14T09:44:37.941+01:00Oh I love that! Must show the boy, in the hope of ...Oh I love that! Must show the boy, in the hope of inspiring him to do something outdoors this weekend! There are sitll 5 things on that list I have never done and I'm much older than 11 and 3/4! :-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com