Following a report run by Cadbury Dairy Milk Freddo Treasures it was discovered that almost half (46%) of British parents feel less adventurous once they start a family. In order to combat this, Freddo Treasures have teamed up with Olympian and dad of three, Alex Gregory to create top tips that will inspire adventure.
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Go out with intention. It’s really important to have the intention but to be aware that it’s OK for the plan to change. As adults we become fixed in our mindsets, focused on what we want to achieve and struggle to adapt when things change, but with children everything changes, and that’s ok! Having an adventure is all about the memories you make together, it doesn’t matter whether you reach the mountain summit, the whole experience is the adventure.
Be interested in everything. Children view the world with intrigue and interest, but there’s a point in time that we as adults lose that. The older we get and as life becomes more complicated with work, family and commitments, we lose the capacity to find excitement in what’s around us. We all know our children feed off the way we act, mirror our behaviours and beliefs, so if we pass the world by with little reaction or intrigue, so will they. Try and embrace your child’s view on the world, get down on your hands and knees, lift up rocks, peer deep into hedges, point out shapes in the clouds, the types of trees or insects around you.
Take a leap of faith. Widening the horizons of our children is something we all want to do, but often seems too difficult, a lot of effort, a big expense, too daunting or we don’t have time. Nothing needs to be complicated or expensive but trying new things is exciting for you and your children. Why not try wild swimming, tree climbing, a visit to the local climbing wall, a flower trail around the local neighbourhood or an impromptu walk outdoors after dinner in pyjamas. Doing something you haven’t done before, something unusual or anything out of the ordinary routine is a huge adventure for your child.
Push away from land. There’s something very special about being separated from solid ground. Having that separation takes you to a place far away from the struggles, stresses and troubles of life, for a while at least. Head to a body of water, hire a canoe or a boat, climb aboard, count down from five and push off from land together. The idea of pushing away from land doesn’t have to be confined to water. Try finding a tree to climb with your children, it’s a wonderful feeling being in the air. Enjoy the feeling and embrace the adventure. Take a flask of warm drink and a delicious snack such as new Cadbury Dairy Milk Freddo Treasures to make it even better!
Find time. We’re all up against it, rushing around, desperately trying to keep up, so how do we find that balance? It’s about discovering those small snippets of time that get a little lost within the day. Try making an after school adventure for your children to fill the gap before dinner that’s often lost to the TV. Try stopping on the way home from school and create an experience, it doesn’t have to be long for it to be exciting. Try having a picnic outside for dinner, forage for blackberries for dessert, or build an insect trap in the garden ready to collect its discoveries the next day after school! The options are endless, nothing has to be perfect, cost much or take too long for it to be a memorable, exciting adventure together.
Dave McDermott, brand manager at Mondelez International said: “Our first parenthood report shows mums and dads are facing a lack of confidence when it comes to trying new things and tackling new adventures, but are inspired to see the everyday adventures in simple pleasures through the eyes of their kids.
“We hope Freddo Treasures will inspire more and more parents to go on everyday adventures and draw on their sense of imagination to create a more confident version of themselves. After all, there’s a kid in everyone.”
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