51 Things To Do Before You're 12 Printable Activity List

There are some classic moments of childhood that every kid should have the chance to experience – like catching a fish and flying a kite. So we created a list of 51 things we would love all kids to have the chance to try before they turn 12! How many of our 51 things have you done?

51 Things To Do Before You’re 12

Why not print off the list (instructions for downloading below) and challenge your kids to see who will be the first to finish the list!

1. Climb a tree
2. Sleep under the stars (even in your backyard)
3. Fall off a bike
4. Learn to swim
5. Build a cubby or a tree house
6. Find a geocache in your neighbourhood
7. Go beach combing after a storm
8. Cook damper in a campfire
9. Go on a school camp in the bush
10. Catch a wave (start with a small one)
11. Play chasey in the rain
12. Catch a prawn in a river (or at least have fun trying)
13. Make a water slide with builders plastic and a hose (do it on your watering day)
14. Find a cave
15. Make something with things you find

16. Play in a creek
17. Do something you’re scared of
18. Watch kangaroos in the wild
19. Slide down a sand (or grass) hill on cardboard
20. Yell “Cooeee!” in a gorge or a valley
21. Camp on a beach
22. Build a sandcastle city
23. Skim a stone
24. Plant something and watch it grow
25. Play spotlight
26. Ride your bike on a bush trail
27. Visit an island
28. Go for a two-day hike
29. Snorkel at the beach or on a reef
30. Ride a flying fox

31. Play under a sprinkler
32. Climb a big rock
33. Play in the bush for a whole day
34. Visit a waterhole
35. Meet kids in a park and invent a game
36. Paddle a kayak
37. Dig for worms in your backyard
38. Catch a crab
39. Learn the Aboriginal names for five plants and five animals
40. Visit a national park
41. Catch a fish
42. Play on a rope swing
43. Eat bush tucker

44. Make a kite and fly it
45. Jump off a jetty (check the water is deep enough first)
46. Identify the birds in your backyard
47. Go abseiling
48. Catch a tadpole (and release it)
49. Make a mud pie
50. Find a lake, puddle or pond and use a magnifying glass to spot living creatures
51. Play beach cricket