“That tiger hasn’t moved in over an hour,” my 12-year-old daughter muttered, staring at the beast as it slept on the rocky ledge. “Its fur looks so thick. Kind of like that blanket we have in the living room, right Mom?” Ah, yes. The plush throw I picked up on clearance last month. “But that fur—the real tiger fur,” I said, “is much warmer. Probably why she isn’t moving much today.” My 14-year-old son, who’d been listening to our conversation, simply nodded. “Let’s check out the wolves,” he said, and we continued on.
My tween, my teen, and I had a great day at the zoo. That’s why when I ran into a friend the next day and she told me her elementary-aged kids were too old for the zoo, I had to choke back my disbelief. Too old for the zoo? Is that possible? Maybe, maybe after the hundredth time passing a passed-out tiger, it’d get old to us too. But kids—even the big ones—are still having fun and getting a lot out of these family outings. Here are 5 reasons your kid’s not too old to be a kid.
1. They may cultivate a lifelong love or appreciation of something.
My teen son has a bucket list and one of the things on it is to see the whale shark at the Georgia Aquarium. I first took him to an aquarium in Boston at six months old. With an annual pass, we racked up a lot of mileage in that place over the years (had to get our money’s worth!). My son developed a true love of marine animals, and I don’t think it’s a coincidence. He’s even talked about studying marine biology in college when the time comes.
2. They’re experiencing things in a different way at 14 than at 4.
When a preschooler examines a butterfly, he experiences it in a different way than a 14-year-old. That’s why we keep going back to visit the butterfly garden at the Strong National Museum of Play. At 4, my son marveled at the insect’s beautiful wings. At 14, he understands habitat and the monarch’s migration, making his experience of the butterfly garden much different. Some activities foster a love of learning at a young age but continue and change as kids grow.
3. They’re participating in family traditions and making memories.
My sister-in-law takes her teens to an amusement park in Ohio every summer. It’s a tradition. When the kids were little, they couldn’t ride the big roller coasters, but it was still fun. As the years passed, the kids grew tall enough to enjoy different aspects of the park. And each year they went, the family made new memories both at the park and on the drive there. Activities like go-karting minigolf and water parks can be fun no matter what the age.
4. They’re able to see and experience new things too.
My husband’s family continued to take vacations together even when he and his sister were high schoolers. They saw Yosemite, Yellowstone, and Zion national parks, hiking and experiencing new things together as a group. Sure, he and his sister were teens and might’ve initially balked at the family fun, but they went and saw some amazing sights. Packing the kids up for a vacation even into their teen years gives kids the gift of seeing new places and allows them to be a kid under your care a little longer.
5. They’re able to be themselves—kids.
The days may feel long raising kids, but childhood goes fast. Before you know it, they’re heading off to college or getting a job. Being a kid means being able to put responsibilities on hold and just have fun. I want my kids to enjoy jumping on a trampoline, playing at an arcade, or visiting the orangutans at the zoo for as long as they want. Maybe, when my kids have learned they’re not too old to be a kid, they’ll enjoy life more as an adult too.
Being a kid means being able to put responsibilities on hold and just have fun. Click To TweetWhat are some other ways your kid is not too old to be a kid?
