I grew up with 16 cousins all younger than I am and a sister who is ten years younger than me, and lets just say you learn a lot about children being constantly surrounded by them. Luckily for me, I decided that I love children and I have been a nanny for the past four years, which helps you to get to know kids on an even deeper level. If you just talk to a child or observe them, you can learn so much about your own life and gain a whole new perspective.
1. Imagination is everything.
Children love to play with their imagination which is great, because that's one of the best ways that they can learn. But somewhere along the line we decide that we are too old to use our imagination, which is so sad. Nothing is more fun, than allowing yourself to use your imagination and nothing will brighten a child's day more. If they want you to jump over puddles of lava, pretend you're in outer space, or that the living room is an ocean- do it because it will remind you how important using your imagination is.
2. Honesty is key.
This one comes from the really little ones who don't know what fibbing or lying is yet. They will aways tell it exactly how it is because they don't have a filter yet. They will typically always tell you if they were the one who spilled glue all over the floor, put spaghetti in their sister's hair, or if they just flat out don't want to do something. You can pretty much count on the fact that they are always going to be one hundred percent honest with you, and it makes you wish more adults would act like that.
3. Use every crayon in the box and color outside the lines.
Nothing in this world has to be perfect and art is one of those things. It's okay to scribble all over the sheet of paper with every single color and it's also okay to draw one line of black on a sheet of paper - it's still art. Kids will show you some of the most amazing pieces of artwork you have ever seen and all of it comes from within. Somewhere along the line this dies. We stick to coloring inside the lines and using only specific colors and our creativity goes away. Kids have shown me that sometimes the most imperfect things are the most beautiful.
4. How to be true to themselves.
Kids do not shape themselves based on others opinions; it all comes from within. They will go to the park wearing bright red cowboy boots and a swimsuit. They will dress like a princess one day and then wear their soccer uniform the next. They will dance in public and sing at the top of their lungs. They will paint their face and leave the house with their hair a mess and I am a firm believer that we should let them. This is their way of expressing themselves and they don't care what anybody else thinks. As adults we care way too much about what other people think so we stop dancing, we stop rocking our red cowboy boots, and we dress the same every day. We should all take some advice from kids and learn how to be ourselves again.
5. It's okay to cry but it's even better to laugh.
Kids will be kids, they will cry when they spill their juice box, they will cry when they don't get their way, and they will cry when they get a scratch - it's just how it is. But they have taught me that it's okay to cry because sometimes all you need to do is get those tears out and then you feel so much better. But they have also taught me that laughter is the best medicine there is, if you can make a kid laugh they will be your best friend. On the flip side of that, kids will make you laugh until your stomach hurts and make everything bad go away.
6. Mistakes are okay.
Kids and adults both make mistakes every day. The difference is that kids will admit to their mistakes and learn from them. If they didn't make it to the potty on time, they will be really upset but you just tell them it's okay and they learn better for next time. If they accidentally spilled their cup of milk all over, you teach them how to clean it up and they know for next time. If they "accidentally" bit their brother again you explain to them why they shouldn't do that and they say sorry and everything is better. Adults need to learn that mistakes are okay as long as you admit to them and learn them.
7. Be kind.
Kids are nothing but kind. I'm pretty sure that their hearts are made of pure gold, but that could be my own biased opinion. They always do things for others, they always want to lend a helping hand, and they always say please and thank you. They are filled with kindness and love and maybe that's why I make better friends with kids than adults, but I wish more adults would learn to be kind.
8. Always say I love you.
Kids will always tell you they love you they never forget. They will tell you I love you first thing in the morning, one hundred times during the day, and one million times before they go to bed. Adults somehow forget to say I love you, which is really sad. They should remember to say it a million and one times just like children, and maybe we would live in a kinder world.
I urge you to sit down and talk to that three year old, play mermaids with that five year old, draw a picture with that eight year old. I urge you to listen and observe, and it just might shock you how much light and perspective that child can bring to your life. I know that I will continue to learn each and everyday and I am so thankful to be able to color outside the lines, make messes, and be myself all because of the children I am surrounded by each and every day.
