As adults, it can be challenging to feel excited about the little things in life. We often get caught up in our jobs, paying bills, and worrying about the future. But spending time with a 5-year-old might just be the remedy we need.
Children see the world through different eyes, and their perspective can bring us joy and wonder that we forgot existed. Spending time with a child allows us to slow down and appreciate moments that we would otherwise rush past.
So if you're feeling burned out or jaded by life, consider spending some time with a 5-year-old. Here are some reasons why:
They Have Boundless Energy
Have you ever watched a group of children run around? It's like they have an endless supply of energy that they tap into whenever they want to play. They bounce from activity to activity without getting tired, while adults struggle to keep up.
Being around someone who is always on-the-go can help lift your own energy levels too: before long, you'll find yourself running around or playing hide-and-seek without giving it much thought!
You Get To Relive Your Childhood
Remember how fun it was when summer vacation rolled around? Or how exciting Christmas Eve felt when Santa Claus was still real?
By watching a child experience these events for themselves (just as you did years ago), it gives you permission subconsciously speaking - even at least momentarily -to relive them yourself! You may suddenly find yourself getting dressed up enthusiastically for Halloween again because 'you were both together' , building sand castles at the beach online [now this sounds tricky but I guess there must be mobile apps for kids available] because 'the waves remind me my nephew', or simply enjoying simpler pleasures than what adult-oriented entertainment attractions offer.
It’s fun seeing holidays through new innocent eyes again – sometimes liberating, at all levels.
They Ask the Best Questions
A 5-year-old’s curiosity knows no bounds. They have a million questions about everything, from why the sky is blue to where babies come from. It's like having your own personal podcast host!
Their questioning encourages you to think deeply and look at old subjects in new ways - if not answering their questions is also an interesting exercise that may take yourself out of your comfort zone!
You Might Learn Something New (But Beware...)
Children see things differently than adults do, so you might learn something you never knew before when spending time with them.
Though be careful...you know what they say about knowing very little until/unless traveling more? Well, listening to kids' ideas could actually give leave marks in some adults' lives- Take responsibility for it! Children’s imaginations can create weird narratives – I won’t lie: there has been times when being around young children left me impregnated with these narrative arcs just as valid but less well-intentioned – particularly harmless ghosts that haunt cupboard doors or subterranean monsters creeping down stairs.
It sounds silly - because they are - but hearing novel thoughts always provide fresh stimulus anyways.
The Magic of Nothing Exists
When was the last time you took a moment to stop and smell the roses? Maybe spend hours untangling bauble wire rope on tree branches?
As adults we often overlook simple pleasures like these in favor of constantly keeping active/getting external validations/etc., But when spending time with a 5-year-old who is enjoying life without worry,
it makes us remember how valuable beautiful spaces/quietness/doing-nothing-and-everything feels spiritually fulfilling; allows us lose track of worries temporarily…to be immoderately present.
Humans Are Still Pure Underneath
As children grow up seemingly much quicker nowadays & thereby (immaturely) are exposed to adulthood matters, they easily lose their innocence. It might be that you get to see a different kind of perspective as kids tend not take themselves too seriously and stay grounded – which is difficult for most adults!
Even when experiencing moody moments or physically acting up (not including tantrums here), children show significant tolerance (i.e., not understanding fear/ haters/bias/etc.), teaching us how little we actually have real problems.
And it’s okay -if a bit emotionally destabilizing- finding out that underneath it all, humans haven't changed much over time. A 5-year-old's shining self-refreshes our inner imageries conscious-secretes into ourselves .
They Remind Us That Imperfection Is Perfect
How often do we beat ourselves up over our mistakes? Or try relentlessly to avoid them altogether?
Children don’t strive perfection in the same way; falling down doesn't get them down; stickers being crooked won’t spoil mood for example—they embrace their flaws & move on.
Now again, this isn’t saying just blurt out some "well practised before came" remarks like 'it was great I showed solidarity with younger me by giving myself credit'- but rather becoming aware of where you currently only acknowledge your perfection-attempting insecurity even internally through body language, etc.. You’ll learn so much about how being fed constant corrections and evaluations while growing can lower self-confidence levels – I mean surely there’re ways correcting without tainting experience! Your new goal could be limiting amount of inhibitions then 😉
Playtime Can Be Therapy Time
Playing with a child feels cathartic because it forces you focus on something else than what has been bothering you personally or globally.
For instance, bouncing balls back-n-forth can eliminate stress thoughts seeped within day-to-day timeline culture expecting from us productivity overload —and sometimes switching-off ‘healthy’ impulse-triggering habits is ESSENTIAL.
When you’re feeling pain, distress, and futility of some sort or another – indulge in it! Especially if spending time with kids/carers, listening for small hints will help to promptly intervene to children Come on - SOMEONE has to throw cake flour across the room and yell “Surprise!"
They Give Us Hope For The Future
With all the negativity that surrounds us these days (news; Covid-19 pandemic), it can be hard not to lose faith in humanity. But when watching a child grow-up from scratch — having proof they haven’t been entirely exposed yet, [5 y/o’s eyes especially twinkle] full of energy & hope even during rough patches when it seems like they’ve reverted into baby mode, their boundless optimism rubs off on us.
Seeing Through A Different Lens
Now we've talked about how enjoyable it is discovering novelties through 5-year-old's perspective but my bigger point here might be making use out of this shift/change/impartiality toward life: It’s something adults tend lose out as years go by because experience defying sets in resulting in loss of innocence I mentioned before...maybe discomfort would lessen if remembering kiddos aren't prone judging without assuming malicious intent?
Think about negative environment one comes back homes from at times: work pressure or things going wrong outside socially/politically while world-ending worthy news make appearances momentarily everywhere around internet… Your living space which used feel cozy no longer bringing joy…
Well yeah that sounds depressing until you add playing heavy balls leaping castle over mutant pink flying unicorns landed right next doors! You’ll get where we were moving towards !
Spending time with a 5-year-old might not always equal therapeutic wairu-washing music album after lauding its merits initially but could provide human interactions unlike any other, allowing us to rediscover our curiosity for the world and truly feel present in the moment. Plus it -without much exertion- teaches us patience/understanding/ open-mindedness if we give it a proper go! So whip out your favorite children's book or head down to the nearest playground – you might be surprised at how much you learn...or maybe just secretly setting new trends (whether deliberate or not) by donning memorably odd streaks of purple color combination from time-to-time 😉