Remember how carefree childhood is. For many, it was a time of play and excitement. I remember spending hours outside exploring and using my imagination to fill those warm summer days.
As we get older, we tend to let go of “childish” things. Many of us become jaded adults who forgot what it’s like to simply enjoy the smaller things in life.
Becoming a mom has taught me to be more present and enjoy the things that I loved as a child. Sharing the things that I loved with my kids has reignited a lot of my old passions.
If you’re feeling blah and looking to add more joy to your life, check out these 4 childhood things you should start doing again.
Reading
I was a total bookworm as a kid. I loved getting new books and diving into them as quickly as I could. The love of reading is something that I want to instill in my children, so I make sure that they see me reading too.
Let’s go old school and head to the library to get your old favorites. For me, it’s Goosebumps (and Fear Street but that’s for the older kids). I loved R.L. Stine and so do my kids. Watching the shows and rereading the books takes me back.
Writing or Journaling
I don’t know if it’s still a thing, but I remember writing in my diary daily as a young girl. Whatever took place that day ended up in the pages of my diary. I don’t know at what point I stopped writing, but it was so cathartic.
Whether you write short stories, poems, or just journal about your day, writing is a timeless art. Pull out a pen and paper (go old school here) and let the words and ideas flow.
Video Games
When I was a kid, I loved my brother’s Nintendo. I didn’t get to play it much because I was the annoying little sister, but anytime he was out, I would sneak into his room and play Mario Bros and Duck Hunt. (Those were my favorite. Anyone remember that dang smirking dog in Duck Hunt?)
My husband still has his Super Nintendo from childhood so we enjoy playing all the games whenever we have the chance. Our kids love it too.
Even if you don’t have a gaming console, that’s no reason to miss out on the fun of playing games. I discovered a really cool (and free) platform called Plays.org. From word search games to kids learning games to Minesweeper, there are around 100 games to choose from. I noticed that they’re constantly adding new ones too.
Dancing
Have you ever sat back and watched how carefree a dancing child is? I’m a pretty uptight person when it comes to dancing, so getting out of my comfort zone and dancing with my kids has been a super freeing experience.
Put on some fun music and just spin around and laugh. Maybe dancing isn’t for you, but doing cartwheels in the yard or jumping on the trampoline is more your cup of tea. Either way, find some form of movement that brings you joy and laughter.
Be a Kid Again
There’s something about becoming an adult that we think means the fun has to end. What if we could still have fun instead of being a boring, stuffy grown up?
I encourage you to sit back and think of the things you enjoyed doing as a kid and start doing them again. What did you love to do as a kid?
