I have worked with little kids for five years now as a camp counselor during the summer. I’ve always worked with the youngest kids of the camp, the five and six year olds (with a few four year olds who were a month or two shy of five.) Over the course of the years these little ones have taught me things that no teacher or adult would or could. The truth is, these little ones have an untainted level of knowledge that us adults, simply overlook.

1.Resilience

When kids get hurt or something doesn’t go their way, they cry or throw a tantrum, but after a few minutes it’s like nothing ever happened! They’re up and running around doing the next crazy thing they can come up with. These little ones know how to get up off their feet and keep moving forward even when their world seems to be crashing down.

2. A Wild and Vivid Imagination

Whether it’s an imaginary friend, a new game, or using a box as 50 million things, children have an unbelievable imagination and a wonderful talent for pretending. As we grow older, we begin losing all these vivid thoughts and day dreams. But a child’s imagination can be a great reminder of innovation, creativity, and possibilities for things that seem impossible. We can come up with new ideas, create new inventions and art, and see things in a new light that may spark inspiration.

3. Don’t be afraid to speak up

I’m sure you know or have heard that kids are brutally honest. They have absolutely no filter and just say whatever comes to their mind. While we should still think before we speak, these kids can teach us to not be afraid of speaking up or saying what’s on our minds. These kids almost have a mentality of “It’s better to beg for forgiveness than ask permission.” In other words, just do it. Just say it. It’s better to ask for forgiveness later.

4. Positivity

Children elude happiness and positive attitudes! They find reasons to smile and laugh in the simplest things. Have you ever watched videos of kids laughing at something menial? They crack up at the smallest things and eventually we find ourselves laughing along with them. They remind us to find happiness in simplicity and find reasons to smile and laugh throughout the day.

5. No knowledge of social awkwardness

The older we get, the more we learn about the social “norms” and unwritten rules society gives us. Kindergarteners don’t care if they burp in public. It doesn’t bother them to talk to strangers or share info with them that they should really keep to themselves. Many adults, however, get so caught up worrying about whether they will appear awkward or not that they are too afraid to say hello to someone or let loose. Five year olds teach us a valuable lesson to not be afraid to step out of our comfort zone and be social with others.

6.Friendship

When you’re five everyone’s a friend! If you ask Jimmy to be friends with Molly or if Molly can play with him, nine times out of ten, he’ll say yes and they’ll immediately become friends that you think have known each other for years. Most kids this age radiate friendliness and display an amazing behavior in inclusiveness.

7. Anything is Possible

Not only can kids imagine the impossible, they BELIEVE what they imagine. When they turn that cardboard box into a spaceship then by God it’s the most amazing and tricked out spaceship they’ve ever built. Equipped with everything they need, from laser guns to juice boxes, they fly on their spaceship as the best astronaut the world’s ever seen. Children have such an innocent mind that they believe anything is possible. No one has ever told them that “that can’t happen” or “it’s impossible.” And if someone did, you best believe they’d fight to the end to convince them that they’re wrong. They have some of the most powerful minds in the world and we adults could really learn from their commitment and mentality.

8. No Care For Looks or Social Status

No five year old cares about how their hair looks or what they’re wearing on a daily basis. They could care less about impressing anyone or showing that they have a higher status than others. These days some people OBSESS over such things and almost go too far to prove where they stand. Just like a five year old, we have to remember that sometimes, these things just aren’t a concern.

9. Single Life

Kindergarteners also don’t care about whether they have a girlfriend or boyfriend. Sure some of them do, but if they don’t have one it’s not a big deal. Also, heartbreak isn’t a thing to them. If they “break up” they know its okay and just move on with their lives AND stay friends with their “ex.” Now that is something we can really learn from them.

10. Stress Free

Because they don’t have to care about 90% of the things adults do, kids are stress free. They get to play and have no responsibilities. While we can’t quit work, drop all of our responsibilities and be as free and stress free as them, we can learn to take breaks and enjoy even just a day like this.

11. Accepting

One of the most awe inspiring things about kindergarteners is that they don’t care if you’re a woman, man, black, white, mixed, disabled, wear glasses, bald, tall, short, fat, thin, or anything in between. They will talk to you, laugh with you, play with you, and love you despite any discrimination that could be given. They are just too young to have learned to stereotype or judge others. They just see people as people. This is such a precious gift and one that we should remind ourselves daily. We need to turn off what society has “taught” us about people of a certain color, gender, sexuality, or whatever. We need to remember to see, respect, and love people just as people. And if we can teach ourselves this, our five year olds will be able to keep this amazing gift through their adult years and beyond and make this gift a norm for generations to come.