Brits reveal 50 things they miss most about childhood – including ice cream van and toys

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Not having to worry about money topped the list, while not having to work and building sandcastles ranked highly, and family holidays and watching cartoons on a Saturday morning also featured.

Children are naturally creative and love to explore their imagination, and we strongly believe these traits should be fostered and celebrated

Osmo spokesperson

Meanwhile, 67 percent said trips to the beach were some of their fondest childhood memories.

The research was commissioned by learning and tech brand Osmo, who have partnered with sand sculpture experts, Sand In Your Eye, to bring children’s drawings to life in three giant sandcastles on Weston-super-Mare beach. 

Adults reckon seven years old is the most magical age of childhood – and you start to lose the sparkle from ten years old onwards.

However, more than half like to maintain a childlike attitude in some aspects of their life – because it’s fun, it helps them see things from another perspective and keeps them curious and honest.

But 65 percent confessed they no longer use their creative thinking and imagination to navigate life – sticking purely to logic instead.

It also emerged that of the 65 percent of respondents who have their own children, 84 percent allow their kids to live as child-like a life as possible to keep the magic alive.

Playing games with them, encouraging them to ask questions and getting them to explore the outdoors were some of the top ways parents tried to keep their kids in a childlike mentality.  

Interestingly, six in ten reckon their childhood was better than the kids of today – because they spent more time outdoors, felt the world was safer for youngsters, and they had more trust from their parents.

A spokesman for Osmo added: “Children are naturally creative and love to explore their imagination – we strongly believe these traits should be fostered and celebrated.

“As the summer holidays draw to a close, we wanted to make some extra special memories by bringing imaginations to life in an even bigger way than usual.

“Exploration during early years is key to a child’s development, and we wanted to demonstrate that encouraging this through real life activities or virtual resources is extremely important and can be done in really fun and simple ways such as a beach visit.”

TOP 50 THINGS ADULTS MISS ABOUT BEING A CHILD:

  1. Not worrying about money
  2. Having long school holidays
  3. The magical feeling of Christmas
  4. Always having energy
  5. Not paying any bills
  6. Not having to work
  7. Not having aches and pains
  8. Being really excited about birthdays
  9. Believing in Father Christmas
  10. Family holidays
  11. Getting loads of presents at Christmas
  12. The excitement of going to the beach
  13. Sleeping soundly
  14. The thrill of getting a new toy
  15. The excitement of hearing the ice-cream van
  16. Making dens
  17. Having no fear
  18. Having holidays paid for
  19. Getting money from the tooth fairy after losing a tooth
  20. Using your imagination freely
  21. Going to birthday parties
  22. Someone doing your laundry
  23. Being free to climb trees
  24. Watching cartoons on Saturday morning
  25. Playing games whenever and for however long you wanted
  26. Having a great imagination
  27. School trips
  28. Watching TV as soon as you got in from school
  29. Being friends with everyone
  30. Everything being new
  31. Being able to fall asleep comfortably anywhere
  32. Building sandcastles
  33. Playing with your siblings
  34. Being the first one to see the sea on a trip to the beach
  35. Getting clothes bought for you
  36. Feeding ducks in the park
  37. Building things
  38. Jumping in puddles
  39. Not having to shave every day
  40. Water fights
  41. Sleepovers
  42. Using an empty box to create countless games
  43. Being excited by public transport
  44. Swapping stickers with friends
  45. Asking any questions you like, to anyone you want
  46. Not knowing what a hangover is
  47. Being carried to bed by your parents
  48. Making paper airplanes
  49. Watching Gladiators on a Saturday night
  50. Dressing up anytime, not only on Halloween

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