25 things every kid should do before kindergarten

The look on a child’s face when meeting a “real-live” princess is priceless. It’s a moment they will forever remember and so will you.

There is so much wonderment and joy when a child has his first merry-go-round ride, and perhaps you even remember your own first time on the carnival favorite. The music will always take you back.

Part of being a kid is getting dirty and soaking wet and not having a care in the world about messing up shoes or socks or clothes. Let your child do this while she still has that joy. (Though be close to home or have dry socks and shoes handy because after the excitement of it is over, they will want to be dry again.)

Mud! As parents, we hate it, but toddlers LOVE it. And that’s exactly why parents have to let kids get dirty and not fear the mud, the worms, and all the dirty dirt.

Going on a pony ride for a kid is like entering into the magical world of fairytales — and just about every child loves horses. It’s one of the ultimate camera moments.

A child will get so much joy from feeding a baby animal, and the adorable giggles that come with it will fill your heart with happiness, too.

Kids love flashlights, and taking a little one outside for an adventure hunt with flashlights makes it even more exciting. Although it might be just a quick loop around the house, this flashlight adventure will feel epic to a child.

Flying a kite is as exciting as flying an airplane for a child — the pull of the wind and watching the kite high in the air is amazing for a little one to see.

When the kids get older, they will want to collect things that cost money, but when they are little, rocks rule (and cost nothing). Toddlers love searching for the perfect rock to add to their collection, and it’s wonderful to see them so in touch with the earth.

Dancing when you’re a child means dancing like you don’t have a care in the world or a worry about who will see or if moves look ridiculous. Kids should dance early and often and anywhere!

Before all the human hangups begin, before all the concern and worry, feeling free after a bath and being able to run around without a care in the world is something all kids should do — and it’s incredibly adorable!

The laughs, the silliness, the falling down and the giggling of getting back up — playing Ring Around the Rosy as a kid is one of the simplest, purest, and best ways to have fun with friends.

Kids love superheroes. They love dressing up in capes and masks and doing good deeds, big and small. Imagine the delight when a child meets a masked superhero in person?! Pure bliss!

There will be a time when the kids are teenagers and they may be too cool to do anything with their parents — and running free in a field will make that list, too. So seize the moment when they are young and let them run and roam free (even though it may require supervision).

Whether being held up high, carefully thrown in the air, or soaring on a swing, little ones deserve to fly — and they will love it.

My kids drew self-portraits as part of a preschool project and they are two of the drawings I cherish most — and ones they are so proud of making. The likeness is amazing! We will do one every year until they decide it’s not cool anymore (which I hope is never). Having the years and skills and their thoughts of themselves in a drawing is priceless