Do you remember what it was like to be a child?
As a mental health professional, I have done a lot of work with adults over the past twenty five years.
But I started my career in the human services field working with children. As a qualified child care worker, I provided physical, emotional, developmental and educational support to young children – many with special needs.
Sure, it was a demanding job but also rewarding, fulfilling and… at times, lots of FUN.
Days were filled with reading, drawing, painting, singing and, of course, outdoor activities no matter what the weather – even if it was well over minus 10 degrees Celsius!
Now, in my adult life, I try and channel my inner child as often as I can. For me, it’s a form of self-care.
Ready to channel YOUR inner child?
Try these five strategies to be more childlike today:
Get creative:
Kids love to learn through art and craft. You, too, can tap into your inner child through creative activity. Looking back, I have always used art and craft as a form of self-expression.
And I often encourage my clients to try some kind of creative activity to reduce stress and improve general wellbeing. Knit for fun, colour mandalas, complete a puzzle, build models, make a collage, blow soap bubbles, join an art class… whatever you decide to do, just start!
Draw or doodle something:
When was the last time you sat down to draw something? Instead of brainstorming in front of your computer, just get a piece of paper and a pen and start drawing something – and see what happens. Or try doodling, randomly sketching anything that comes to mind in an unfocused manner. Did you know that doodling can be really good for your mental health?
Be spontaneous:
Being an adult can be serious business. We over-analyse. We are set in our ways. Kids on the other hand, naturally live in the moment. They are ready to do something new at a moment’s notice. So be spontaneous, you don’t always need a plan.
Become curious:
Kids are always exploring the world around them. They want to KNOW everything and they want to TRY everything. They are like sponges, especially in the early years! New games to play, new concepts to master, new places to visit… running, rolling, jumping, digging and climbing. For a child, everything is new.
Make mistakes:
We tend to view mistakes as failures. But making mistakes is part of life. Look at kids, they make mistakes all the time but they don’t dwell on them. They laugh, perhaps cry a little and then... move on. At the same time, they learn how to handle disappointments. They become more resilient and confident. Mistakes are essential for learning. We all need to be a little willing to laugh at ourselves and our mistakes.
So, give yourself a mini-break from adulthood.