1. It's ok to ask for help

As we grow up, we gain a greater sense of doing things ourselves, and we prefer to do them our way. It’s important that we understand that “our way” is not always the best way. At such a young age, kids feed off of the help and support that their parents provide, which allows them to live a stress-free and enjoyable childhood. Maybe if we set our egos aside every now and then and ask for a little assistance, our lives can be made simpler.

2. Recognize your emotions

When kids are sad, happy, angry, or utterly confused, they will make it a priority to let everyone know that’s how they feel. Occasionally, children’s emotions can get out of hand, especially in toddlers; however, recognizing emotions is different from controlling them. Every kid experiences a breaking point, and even though he or she may fail when it comes to keeping it together, at least they can identify the way they truly feel and find a strategy to deal with it. Adults tend to conceal negative emotions for the sake of others seeing them in that state of mind. But we should seriously consider the fact that all human beings experience similar emotions, and that it’s O.K to let people see the real you.

3. Speak up

The worst thing you could possibly be called as a kid is a tattle-tale. After being called out for “telling,” embarrassment rushes to your cheeks and you just want to crawl in a hole for the rest of your life because you feel like you betrayed the other idiot kid you were just with. No matter the guilt that comes from occasionally speaking up, kids continue to identify when something isn’t right, and they are not afraid to tell someone about it. Some kids won’t even try to tattle; but they will make sure to voice their personal opinions and take a stand for themselves. Adults shouldn’t buy into so much B.S either.

4. Show your love

We hear the terms “Mama’s boy” or “Daddy’s girl” all of the time. One thing children tend to do at a very young age is search for nurture and love from their parents or guardians. When received over and over again, kids develop a sense of physical and emotional attachment and they aren’t afraid to let it show. We must remember that you’re never too old to hug, butterfly kiss, or hold hands with the people you love. Feeling appreciated, accepted, and adored are just a few things every human being (young and old) would like to experience.

5. Avoid negative people in your life

The last thing you will see a child do after getting bullied by another kid is hanging out with that person. Most kids avoid the harmful playground toughs and search for more accepting and optimistic friends to play with. As adolescents and adults, we tend to think we can change people or at least have a positive impact on their lives. In some cases, this is true, but we must worry about our own health, safety, and wellbeing first.

6. Listen to your body

We often tend to put our own needs aside in order to tend to other people on a daily basis. I’m sure parents can attest to this more so than I can. However, one thing that stands out to me about kids is that they acknowledge the way they physically feel right at that moment. If a kid is tired, he or she is going to take a nap, whether it’s on the neighbor’s sofa, in the car, or in the middle of the playground. Although it is important that we keep up with our work, and studies, our adult health should be made a greater priority. It’s not bad to take a nap in the middle of Chemistry right?

7. Dress yourself the way YOU want

Remember when your parents stopped dressing you every day and when you finally got to wear whatever you wanted to school as a kid? The ugly stripes and polka-dot mix seemed like a great idea at the time. Looking back though, our childhood wardrobes and outlandish hairstyles are what made us unique. Throughout adolescence and adulthood, it’s important to embrace our sense of style. Instead of adhering to the expectations and latest fashions of society, maybe we should stop caring so much about what other people think.

8. Imagine and Dream

As adults, we should never lose sight of our creative sides. Many of us tend to hold seemingly ridiculous goals and we convince ourselves that they will never become a reality. On the other hand, when a kid has a dream, the cardboard and scissors come out and their imagination takes care of the rest. Instead of doubting our dreams, we should spend more time working on them and believing in them with all of our heart.

9. Take pride in your own accomplishments

As a kid, performing in the school talent show, winning a basketball game, or getting a good grade on a math quiz was a big deal. As we get older though, we tend to undervalue our achievements and lose sight of our pride. It’s a wonderful thing to remain modest and push ourselves to become better at what we do. However, we can still humbly pride ourselves for our successes.

10. Be optimistic

Without much experience in the world, children only see the good in it. As adults, we tend to focus on the negative aspects of our world and try our best to protect others and ourselves from unforgiving experiences. Even though we shouldn’t trust everyone, we should try on a slightly more optimistic lens and see what comes of it.