15 ways we can all be more childlike (and why we should be!)

Now that we are thankfully past the nightmares of the tantrum stage, as my daughter strides towards completing her first year at school in reception, there have been so many times she has floored me with her wise words, untainted viewpoints and beautiful demeanour. Don’t get me wrong – we have our moments! But I feel as time goes on there is so much to be learned from her, and often she really has me stopping to think about the way I act or the things I say and it’s got me thinking how we could all do with being more childlike.

Recently in one of my silly frenetic moods, my daughter turned around to me and said – “Mummy, why are you always rushing? You don’t need to do that now. You can do that tomorrow.” And she was right. I could! I felt so silly in that moment rushing for what actually seemed to be no reason, probably because I had just gotten used to operating in that way.

Our children can be incredible beings to learn from, their life is simple, uncomplicated, in the moment, and pretty damn beautiful! Their hearts seem to be full of joy, their minds full of wonder, and their viewpoints untarnished. They truly know how to have fun, and embrace all that is magical in this world…no matter how small.  So it made me think – how can we be more childlike, and I thought of these ways we can all embrace our childlike selves by taking a leaf out of their little books:

Do what you love

Make time to do something you love – whatever that might be. Whether it’s baking, singing, dancing around in the front room, gardening, upcycling, painting. The world is your oyster. All you have to have to do is say yes and do it.

Be curious about everything

Finding out the answers to anything and everything in this day and age is so easy thanks to Google. Next time you wonder why or how something happens, don’t just shrug your shoulders and say “I have no idea”. Go ahead and find out!

Explore

We can become so entrenched in habit sometimes that it can dull our senses as adults. Take a new route, go somewhere new, or simply explore your favourite place with a new sense of perspective.

Read a book your love….again!

Children read their favourite books over and over. Yet we leave our favourite books languishing on a bookshelf. Pick up an old favourite and re-read it again!

Be active

Kids are always careering around, yet we spend way too much time sitting as an adult. Have a swordfight, skip down the road with your little one, have a race, do some star jumps, just get the blood pumping round that adult body of yours!

Connect with nature

Connecting with nature is so important for our wellbeing, yet we don’t take nearly enough time as adults doing this. This is something kids are great at. So go bug hunting, hug a tree, feed some ducks, go on a big walk in a woods and bring nature back to your heart.

Share

It’s official, sharing is good for you, and for others, and while it does take a bit of practice for children to start sharing, once they get the hang of it, there’s nothing sweeter than an invitation to share something with them. Try sharing something of yours with someone and see how it makes you feel. Because sharing is caring….

Laugh

We can be so serious as adults and don’t laugh nearly as much as we should do! Watch something funny, do something funny, hang out with someone funny, or simply fake a laugh if you have to!

Dare to dress differently

When children get themselves dressed, they are not thinking about what matches or how they will look in it. They put on whatever they feel like and couldn’t give two hoots about what the outcome is. Try doing the same!

Say it how it is

Kids don’t mince words…they tell you exactly how they feel, and that’s the end of it. We can become so censored as adults it becomes arduous. So try taking a leaf out of their book and say what you mean, and mean and mean what you say.

Have a cry

Crying is an amazing form of release, yet when was the last time you cry. Children cry all the time, and if we feel like we need to shed a tear, we should be doing exactly the same.

Tell someone you love them

Children love to love, and they have the most beautiful ways of telling you so. But as adults, do we tell our nearest and dearest we love them enough? Probably not. So go on and pick up the phone and tell someone you love them today!

Ask for help

Children ask for help like it is the most natural thing in the world – which it should be. Yet as adults somewhere along the way we have conditioned ourselves not to ask for help. Break down those barriers and let someone help you if you need it.

Be creative

There’s a reason art therapy exists. The next time your child gets crafty, don’t just get on with the chores. Pull up a seat, get hands-on and create something alongside them!

Get lost in your imagination

Remember your imagination? As adults, it’s something that doesn’t get to make much of an appearance yet children spend endless hours lost in theirs. So go on….have a daydream, try a guided meditation, create something, tell a story…and let your imagination loose!

Do you ever try to be more childlike? What do you think about trying more of any of the above? Do share in a comment below.

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26 comments

  1. Done great advice. I’m looking forward to my two starting school in 18 months – fee kindy next year will be great! As I’m hoping to find “me” again. So much of what I love and enjoy has been put on hold so it will be nice to have that option for me time.

  2. All 15 suggestions are perfect a lot of the time our inner child needs our attention and your suggestions are a perfect way to reconnect. Loved this post!

  3. Some fab and some funny ideas! We all need to embrace our inner child sometimes! X

  4. This post is so interesting and I wholeheartedly agree with all your points! Especially about being able to speak your mind and be a bit more concise. You’re right, kids don’t mince their words but they do get an answer or a reaction that they’re after, rather than pussyfooting around everything. Obviously there’s a time and a place, but good communication is something we could all learn about from our kids.

  5. I have always felt that way! I learn from my kids every single day. It really does put great meaning to the words, “Out of the mouths of babes”.

  6. Oh gosh, I couldn’t agree more! That’s why I love hanging out with kids so much. I dare anyone to hang out with a toddler and keep a stern face for more than 10 minutes!

  7. Oh gosh, I couldn’t agree more! That’s why I love hanging out with kids so much. I dare anyone to hang out with a toddler and keep a stern face for more than 10 minutes!

  8. I love this post so much! I always have to remind myself to slow down and stop rushing. I also find that children can be incredibly creative and it inspires me to use my imagination a little more.

  9. Love this! Wonderful tips. Got me thinking we were the same when we were kids and as we grew up, we got a bit lost in adulthood. I shall strive hard to make sure my kids don’t lose that beautiful spark for as long as possible. #coolmumclub

  10. Some great advice here. I read a post somewhere which said the best form of self care was doing things you liked doing when you were 10 … Sounds like a good plan. 🙂

  11. Some amazing ideas. Since having kids, I do make time to stop and look and try to see things through their eyes. And skip, I love holding hands with my 5 year old and skipping through the long grass! #coolmumclub

  12. My child (3 yrs old) amazes me everyday on how wise he is. He has seriously taught me to take life less seriously and to be more silly. I am definitely a lot calmer and happier with his advice! Love your suggestions, I am going to start letting him get me dressed, just for fun! #coolmumclub

  13. That is my goal for this summer break is to explore more. Just look around and enjoy where I am. #coolmumclub

  14. I love this – some great ideas here. I loved the idea of taking a new route. When I go for a run I try to change my route and i genuinely run faster and for longer if I am exploring #coolmumclub

  15. Fabulous ideas! I think my favorite is do what you love. It is so important to keep the hobbies you adore after becoming a mum. For a while I felt a little lost, until I discovered that I don’t have to lose my old self as long as I make time for the things I loved before the kids came along!
    Thank you for the inspiration!
    #CoolMumClub

  16. I love these ideas on how to be more child like though if I was to be any more like my 12 year old, we would be the same moody pre menstrual pre teen! Hahaha… I will stick to being as inquisitive and as fun as my 6 year old for now instead, thanks so much for sharing.

    Shevy
    http://moonsomia.com

  17. Definitely – couldn’t agree more! I have to often have a word with myself to snap out of Mum mode and get back down on the carpet for a roll around! Thanks for the reminder! #CoolMumClub high five kid style to ya!

  18. And that’s why I love teaching 5 year olds! They are so cool. They are lovable. They are so open. They are so amazing at telling each other exactly how they feel. They rock basically and I work with them everyday. I love my job. #coolmumclub

  19. This is so true! I definitely need to be more childlike, especially laughing more and trying to read! We really can learn a lot from our kids! #coolmumclub

  20. I regularly have to have a word with myself and remember to stop and have fun. Life can be so busy that we are forever rushing from one thing to the next without actually stopping to play. #coolmumclub

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