What Should Every Kid Experience?

The beach.
A pick up baseball game in the neighborhood.
A tire swing.
A clubhouse.
Disappointment.
Delayed gratification.
Giving.

Totally on board with the beach, camping and snow!
I would swap walking thru leaves to jumping in a pile of them!
pumpkin picking
catching or chasing lightning bugs
stargazing
skipping stones
fishing
have a pet
volunteer
visit a museum
go to a play or concert
Visit New York City
Disney

Two things I never took my kids to that I wish I did at least once...circus and a parade (not counting Disney parades)

Love. Safety/Trust. Curiosity. Fresh Air.

Playing in the rain and jumping in puddles
Picking bunches of dandelions
Riding a bike
Kisses and hugs at bed time
Roasting marshmallows
A lazy day every once in a while
Being cherished.

Climbing a tree - some of my best childhood memories were experienced 20 feet off the ground, lol.
Walking to the ice cream shop/corner store by themselves

Besides the obvious...

Falling stars
An eclipse
Growing something from a seed
Walking in grass without shoes
Looking for images in clouds

Add:
fingerpainting with chocolate pudding
working with clay or play doh
building a fort out of blankets and cushions
owning a pet and being responsibile for it
sitting outside and soaking up the warm sun
playing with friends tag
being a scout girl/boy
train ride
plane flight
riding in a bumper car or go cart
collecting money for a cause (charity/disaster)

The other S.

Clean warm bed.
A daddy and a mama.
Home cooked meals.
Love and affection.
And of course>>>>>
Disney World!!!

* Swimming and/or playing in the sprinklers in the summer!

* Children who grow up in small towns should experience the big city, and vice versa.

* Trying many different kinds of cuisines (not just the typical "kid friendly" stuff)

* Growing a garden

Dependent on the child.... Summer Camp.

Library trips for new books

I completely agree on the beach!

Also on music -opportunity to play an instrument or at least hear a lot of music regularly

Going to camp -even day camp or Vacation Bible School -something that's for a certain amount of time with arts and crafts, stories, new friends, etc.

Amusement parks and/or fairs/carnivals

Swimming/learning to swim

Baking or cooking with a parent

Riding a bike

A walk in the woods. Even if it is on a path.

i agree with every answer everyone has given so far.. but i have to add. . the zoo!!

taking an occasional day off to do whatever the kid wants, from hot chocolate to rock climbing to the movies.
the freedom to explore (within reason) their world without hovering adults.
animals.
sleeping bag adventure when there's a meteor shower.
:) khairete
S.

Love

Safety in their home

Patience

Kindness

Childhood fun

You know, I'd answer this with FUN.

And for each kid, that is different.

Tomorrow I'm taking my kids to Mount Vernon and for them that's almost as good as Disney World! We all LOVE history stuff. Just last month we went and saw President Johnson's birthhome in Raleigh, NC.

I think as long as your kids are happy and are having fun, then you're crossing off the things on their list :).

Great question and ideas!! I'll have to help my kids set up a lemonade stand this summer...we've never done one and I bet they would LOVE it.

one-on-one time with each parent or caregiver

time with grandparents or other "senior"

making fire (safely)

using tools (possibly to build a treehouse!)

Rope swing over a lake

the time and ability to explore their surroundings without there being a lesson attached

disappointment and the consequences of disappointing others

hearing the words "I love you" every day

Sitting still and observing and listening to the birds... or other animals.

Picking berries
Fishing, catching one, and cooking it for dinner
Catching things and keeping them as a pet- tadpoles/snakes/crawfish/turtles/whatever!
Scrambling for money and running out to get a popsicle from and ice cream truck!
Making smores over the campfire!