From Tree Forts to Tik Tok: Why Kids Should Talk to Adults About How They Played Outside

From Tree Forts to TikTok: Why Kids Should Talk to Adults About How They Played Outside

In an age where childhood is often spent indoors and online, there’s a refreshingly simple idea that holds transformative potential: encouraging kids to interview adults about how they played outside as children.

What might start as a nostalgic conversation quickly becomes something deeper. These interviews spark curiosity, foster communication skills, and help bridge generations. They also plant the seeds of inspiration, showing today’s youth that fun doesn’t have to come from a screen—it can come from mud, imagination, and the freedom to explore.

Authentic Learning Through Storytelling

When young people ask older generations how they spent their childhoods outside, they are engaging in authentic inquiry. They're not passively consuming information; they’re actively creating it. Whether the final stories are compiled into a class blog, a printed community booklet, or a digital storytelling series, the process of gathering, curating, and sharing these memories gives young learners a purpose and audience for their writing.

They practice asking thoughtful questions, listening deeply, and summarizing stories with care and clarity—skills that are foundational for strong communication and literacy. And when students are encouraged to share these stories publicly, they begin to understand their role as storytellers, archivists, and community contributors.

Sparking Outdoor Curiosity and Creativity

As kids listen to tales of tree climbing, stream hopping, fort building, and endless summer evenings, they begin to see outdoor play through a new lens—one that’s imaginative, unstructured, and joyful. These stories become seeds of inspiration, inviting young listeners to create their own adventures and traditions in nature. Interviewing adults can also help children see that play doesn't require expensive gear or planned activities—just curiosity and space to explore.

Strengthening Intergenerational Bonds

This project is also a beautiful invitation to strengthen relationships across generations. Whether students are interviewing grandparents, neighbors, community members, or even strangers, they’re engaging in a form of active respect—valuing the life experiences of others. These moments of connection can spark empathy and a sense of belonging that transcends age.

And for the adults being interviewed, there’s joy in remembering and sharing, in knowing their stories matter to the next generation. This exchange creates a shared legacy, one built not just on words but on wonder.

A Win-Win for Learning and Living

In the end, a project as simple as “Tell me how you played outside when you were a kid” can offer a rich educational experience with far-reaching benefits. It invites kids to step into the role of researcher, storyteller, and nature explorer—while offering adults a chance to reflect and connect.

At a time when communities need more bridges and kids need more nature, this is the kind of learning that just makes sense.