Will They Even Remember? Why Little Adventures Matter for Growing Kids
Will They Even Remember? Why Little Adventures Matter for Growing Kids
A few years ago, my wife snapped one of my favorite photos of me and my youngest.
We were lying on our backs under the big glass tunnel at the aquarium. Above us, stingrays and small sharks circled in blue light.
I remember glancing at him and seeing his eyes huge—full of pure, unfiltered wonder.
It's one of those parenting snapshots that sticks with you.
And it’s also the kind of moment that brings up a question I think a lot of parents wrestle with:
Will they even remember this?
The Doubt Every Parent Has
I've asked myself that question more times than I can count.
Because that aquarium day wasn’t a one-off. We’ve done so many of these little adventures over the years:
- Short hikes through local forests
- Backyard camping under questionable stars
- Rainy day museum runs
- Fishing trips at the local lake
- Walks around the neighborhood looking for bugs
Most of them were small. A few were big.
But all of them were us showing up, getting outside, exploring together.
And still, that question sits in the back of my mind:
They’re so young. Will they even remember?
The Answer I Keep Coming Back To
Honestly? They might forget the details.
But I don’t think they’ll forget how it felt.
Because even if my youngest doesn’t recall the exact curve of the stingray’s wings, his brain—and his heart—remember what it was like to be there:
- Safe.
- Close.
- Connected.
- Amazed at something new.
He might not remember the trailhead signs or the name of the lake. But he’ll remember that exploring is fun, that nature is interesting, that his parents wanted to share it all with him.
🧠 What the Science Says
This isn't just parental wishful thinking. There’s real research behind why these experiences matter:
✅ Early experiences build brain architecture.
Harvard’s Center on the Developing Child explains that novel environments and back-and-forth interactions (“serve and return”) literally shape the brain’s neural connections.
✅ Emotional memories stick even when details fade.
Kids may not remember events clearly before age 3–4, but the feelings of safety, wonder, and connection are stored deep.
✅ Exploration builds resilience.
New places, even small ones, teach kids to adapt, problem-solve, and deal with uncertainty.
✅ Shared awe builds stronger bonds.
Joint attention—like both of you marveling at fish overhead—strengthens attachment. It’s the kind of connection that lasts, even when the specific moment doesn’t.
✅ Nature and novelty reduce stress and spark empathy.
Whether it’s a forest trail or an aquarium, exposure to living creatures soothes and fascinates.
🌿 Adventures Don’t Have to Be Big
If there’s anything I’ve learned, it’s this:
You don’t need a two-week national park trip to give your kids adventure.
They’re wired to find wonder everywhere.
- A stroll through your own neighborhood at dusk.
- A tent in the backyard.
- That museum down the road you’ve always meant to visit.
- A local trail you’ve walked a hundred times—because it’s new to them.
It all counts.
Why I Keep Taking Them
That aquarium photo is old now.
But the why behind it is the same reason I keep packing the car or pulling out the tent or telling them to grab their boots.
Because I want them to learn the world is worth exploring.
That new things can be exciting, not scary.
That even when they’re older and forget the details, they’ll know they had parents who wanted to show them wonder.
And I hope one day, they’ll do the same for someone else.
Adventure Anywhere.
Because it matters. Even when they don’t remember.
— EverTrail Co.