You know the feeling. The kids are moaning they’re bored, you’ve got two hours before dinner, and your brain’s offering up zero ideas for things to do that don’t involve snacks, screens or some faffy craft you don’t have the glitter for (or the patience to clean up after). You feel guilty, knackered, and vaguely like you’re failing at this whole ‘good parenting’ business.
You need to go on a mini adventure.
You might not have heard of them, but trust me they are the unassuming little heroes of weekends for parents everywhere. Easy to overlook, or to dismiss as not enough, actually they can be brilliantly effective at turning those “we’ve got a bit of time” moments into “do you remember when we…?” memories. They don’t involve theme parks, long car journeys or costs so high you need a second mortgage just for a family day out.
But what exactly are they?
And you? You need something that doesn’t require a spreadsheet, hours scrolling Pinterest for inspiration or three hours of pre-planning just to pull off. Something that's just there when you need an idea you can use right now.
A couple of hours together, letting your imginations running wild? There's no doubt you'll have adventures in new worlds that you'll always remember.
Why mini adventures matter
Here’s the thing about free time. Sometimes its under control, well planned and organised. But other times it stretches out like a gloriously, terrifying wasteland of nothingness, where the cries of “what are we going to do today?” leave you paralysed with fear and unable to think of a single damn activity to suggest. Ok that's a slight exageration, but finding fun, cheap and easy activities time after time can be really, bloody, tough.
And in the school holidays particularly, if you’re juggling work, camps, childcare, the pressure to “make the most of the free time” can be immense. Social media doesn’t help, with its beautifully curated pictures of expensive days out, artisanal picnics and everybody always, so damn happy. Their smug grinning faces and captions like “Just soaking up every moment” are enough to induce waves of guilt in even the most hardened of us.
Mini adventures cut through all of that.
They’re:
- Time-friendly: they slot into the few hours you do have free, whether thats before dinner or after youve doen the shopping .
- Money-saving: most have no cost other than your prescence, your imagination and your time.
- Stress free: no elaborate plans to adhere to, long lists of equipment to organise or tickets to queue for hours for. All you have to do is get everyone outside.
- Energy boosts: short bursts of together time having fun and getting fresh air help boost your energy, your mood and build trust, joy and family togetherness.
They’re the ultimate school holiday cheat to keep in your back pocket - easy to pull out, low on stress, and surprisingly magical.
It takes the pressure off by giving you ready-to-go ideas perfect for right now, that you can use whenever the moment strikes.
Here are some mini adventures from previous packs:
- Nature’s Art Gallery: Create a nature inspired masterpiece using materials you’ve found outside; leaves, petals, twigs, pebbles or anything else that catches your eye.
- Scene seeking: Can you find the sky reflected in a puddle; or some early spring flowers pushing through the soil? What about a garden gnome in a colourful spring outfit?
- Lights Out: Grab 5 things from around your house. Plant them on a (safe) route around your garden, wait for dark and take it in turns to try and work out what they are ‘by the light of moon’. (This was an adventure designed to coincide with Earth Hour).
Simple, imagination driven fun. I can almost hear the laughter when your toddler trips over a jelly on the grass during sensory hour! Yes, it might get messy. But isn’t it worth it to be able to quickly shift the vibe from “meh” to magic?
How to start a mini adventure habit
The secret? Keep it dead simple. Start with these three steps:
- Pick a time of day that usually drags. After tea? Sunday morning? Whatever time works for your family, works for a mini adventure.
- Have 2–3 ideas ready to go. The Family Adventure Pack is the perfect way to have just the right amount of brand new, seasonally appropriate ideas to hand whenever you want them.
- Don’t try to force perfection. If it flops, it flops. It didn’t cost you much, just a little time. You still went outside. You still showed up, that matters. And, sometimes those failures are the ones that turn into the best memories.
Over time, your kids will start asking you to have a mini adventure. You’ll start noticing more opportunities. And the pressure to plan an epic family adventure every weekend? Gone.
Ready to get unstuck?
If you’ve ever thought, “We should do something fun outside,” and then... didn’t, you’re not alone. Most parents want more time having fun with their kids. But something always seems to get in the way.
The truth is, that “something” looks different for everyone. And until you know what it is, it’s hard to move past it. That’s exactly what our short quiz is designed to help with. It’s not about labels. It’s about clarity. The kind that helps you stop circling and start moving. Take the quiz. Get clear. And when you're ready, the Family Adventure Pack is here to help you get started.
Take the quiz now and find out what’s holding you back.