Do you ever connect with your inner child?
Why does life have to be so serious? When did I grow up? When did I forget how to play and have fun? As a former early childhood educator, I’m aware of the joy and freedom that can be found in play. Yet now that I’m not working I find myself dragging myself through endless “to do” lists and chores.
I sometimes wonder if I would enjoy my role as mom more if I played frequently. I’m not just talking about playing with my children, I do a lot of that, I’m talking about using some of my free time to play!
What would we be like if we nurtured and connected with our inner child? Would there be as much conflict, crime, and war?
Are you curious about play? Do you wish you could connect with your inner child? If so, here are some ways to do so!
Life doesn't have to be so serious! Here are some tips to connect with your inner child. #foreveryoung #youthfulliving Click To Tweet
Dig out a costume and wear it for the day.
I love this about children. Regardless of the day or occasion, they will wear a costume when the feel like it. We’re going grocery shopping… well, let me dig out my princess crown and duck costume!
Imagine doing the laundry while wearing chaps and a cowboy hat or washing dishes while wearing a cape?!
Find a hill and do a log roll down it.
Do you remember doing this? Throw your body down a hill and roll wildly to the bottom. Just try not to giggle!
Get out your rubber boots and go puddle hopping!
Dig out those rubber boots and do some serious puddle hopping. For more fun, do this with a friend!
Twirl around and around until you get dizzy!
Go into the middle of a field and twirl around and around until you fall to the ground. Then watch the world continue to spin about your head!
Be completely silly.
Whether you’re re-enacting a scene from a movie or pretending you’re a robot, try being completely goofy, even if it’s just for a few minutes.
Scream!
I’m not talking about a blood-curdling “I’m being murdered” scream but a “Wheeee… life is fun scream”.
Go to the playground and swing on a swing.
Pump your legs as hard as you can and swing as high as you can! Then close your eyes and laugh. Feel the wind on your face and in your hair.
Dance!
Blast your favourite tunes and dance your wildest dance!
Ride a bike.
Okay, so maybe you already ride a bike but what about riding a bike that’s too small for you? While you’re at it, hang your tongue out like a dog and drink up the air!
Forget about fashion sense.
I just love how children can feel perfectly confident and content dressing themselves in a cowboy hat, a tutu and rubber boots! Try to do the same. Go to your closet and/or your tickle trunk and put on your favourite clothing items. Enjoy the looks you get as you walk down the street!
Play with playdough.
Squish, squeeze, pound and sculpt a hunk of dough! Revel in the way your hands can work the dough. Poke it. Smell it. Have fun!
Do some fingerpainting.
Roll up your sleeves and dip your fingers in some paint. Squish the paint on the paper and enjoy the texture.
Make a mud pie.
Now that you’ve gotten a little “messy”, why not get step it up?! Soak some dirt, get out a plate and make a mud pie. Get creative and add some leaves and twigs for decoration. If you’re enjoying yourself, why not cover yourself in mud and roll around in it? Come on, you know you want to!
Have a water fight.
After you’ve played in the mud, why not have a water fight?! Fill up the water balloons, water guns, squirt bottles, and grab a bucket with sponges. Launch an attack on your spouse, friends, or kids. You’ll be laughing in no time!
Make a blanket fort.
Every kid, at one time or another, has made a blanket fort but when was the last time you made one all for yourself?!
Hide somewhere.
I remember when I was a kid, I would find all sorts of places to hide. Under the bed, in a cupboard, or behind a shower curtain. I loved those minutes alone and the eager anticipation that someone might discover me hiding in my secret spot.
See if you can find a hiding spot of your own. The smaller the spot, the better!
Go outside, lie on your back, and do some cloud watching.
I see a horse, a balloon, a rabbit… cloud watching sparks the imagination and invigorates the inner child in you.
Blow bubbles.
You may do this for your children but try blowing some bubbles just for your own enjoyment. Watch the way the light reflects off of them and catch them in your hands.
Play childhood games.
You can skip rope, hopscotch or twirl a hula hoop! Do an activity that makes you feel young and alive!
Who says we have to grow old? Our hearts can be forever young… we just have to allow ourselves to see the world through a child’s eyes and experience it with a child’s sense of exploration, openness and freedom.
SHARE WITH OTHERS
I just recently did hang out with my girls on their new playground swinging with them and had such a blast. I felt younger than I have in years, so totally agree with that and more here. Thanks for sharing and wishing you a great week ahead!! xoxo ;)
Yesterday I was swinging on a swing set with my youngest. I got this urge to jump off the swing like I used to when I was a little girl. I did… and the feeling of flying through the air was awesome (and thankfully I didn’t break any bones) lol.
I think we get so caught up in motherhood that we forget that we need to have fun as well. I don’t mind a messy house because I know my kids are enjoying themselves and I sometimes jump in the puddles with Madison myself when we’re outside. I do need to loosen up a bit more though. Life is too short not to have fun.
I love puddle hopping. Last year I got a hole in my rubber boots and as soon as the rubber boots were on the store shelves this year, I bought myself a pair.
Hi Jennifer! That mud photo is a winner! You certainly follow through on your own recommendations, and look great doing it too!
I think your children are so blessed to have you as their Mom. You are so young at heart, and your joy will infect them with happiness. They’ll see how fun it is to be a parent! (Because it is fun!) Always easy to complain, and get down about childhood problems…what a grace to get out there and lead the way. Love that!
Have a play-doh day :)
Ceil
I’m glad you enjoyed my mud wrestling photo. LOL
I like to have fun and I still need to do it more often.
Thank you for your kind words my friend.
I love playing playdoh with my daughter, and building blanket forts. I need to do some cloud watching; I bet I could get a lot of imagining done while doing that.
Great post Jennifer!
xoxo
I love cloud watching Tiffany. It’s so relaxing too!
I’m glad you enjoyed these suggestions.
That picture of you and husband is so cute!
This list is so me! I am the biggest kid in the house. If the kids are doing something fun I want in! It keeps you young at heart, looking for adventure and helps to connect with your kids!
P.S. You haven’t lived until you have careened down a hill on a block of ice!
I love hearing about your fun adventures Jen! You rock! I totally want to do that ice block thing… but what if you fall off and get run over by an ice block?!
It’s all part of the adventure my friend :)
This is awesome. I love wearing costumes. I’ll sometimes randomly wear my Anne Boleyn costume.
And I love to be silly.
Anne Boleyn costume?! How elaborate!
I love hearing that you enjoy being silly too.
Your skin must have been glowing after that mud mask. LOL! Do you know what my husband and I use to do when our girls were little and they absoluely thought it was the bomb. We reveresed roles, yes we became the kids, they became the parents. He and I would act like kids, do what our kids did, and you should have heard how they acted like parents. Whenever we had our family fun nights, that is what they wanted to do. Some of the best memories we made. You are so right, our inner child needs to come out more. Bonus: it keeps us younger too! This made me smile beyond words!!
Oooh, it sounds like you really hammed it up with your kids. I love it!
I’m delighted you enjoyed this and that it gave you a chuckle Michelle. I love to have fun!
The one thing I can’t do is get dizzy – I have the world’s worst equilibrium with spinning for some reason!
Ok that costume photo is amazing. Is it from Superman II? If not, forgive me. I usually am good with references.
I love this! I made a blanket for today!
I can’t get dizzy either – I get sick – but I do like a bit of a log roll!
Yes the costume was from Superman II – way to go on guessing that one. Confession – it’s one of my favourite superhero movies (I’ve watched it far too many times).
Yay for blanket forts!
Such great ideas! It is so good to embrace and enjoy life! What a great example to our kids!
I’m delighted that you enjoyed this (and my crazy ideas)! We do need to enjoy life and play more.
Look at you and your costume! Love it. it’s fun to be silly, though I don’t think I’d call myself a silly person. I love when it comes out though naturally, and I think that’s how I crack up my loved ones the most. Dancing is super fun, as is hanging out with kids being silly at the playground and running.
I love dancing like a mad woman. Tonight we brought the girls to the park and we had loads of fun. It’s good to be silly and young at heart!
Hi Jennifer, I think my two wish I didn’t connect with my inner child quite so often! I’ve been known to charge up a hill just to log roll down it…Again and again (until I feel queasy!), much to my children’s dismay. And puddle jumping is fun so much fun, especially when it’s a muddy puddle.
Another thing I love doing is riding downhill on my bike with my legs stuck out and going ‘weeeeeeeeee’ at the top of my voice. It’s just for my own enjoyment too as I rarely cycle with anyone else. It makes me feel free and young again and would recommend it to anyone!
Getting in touch with our inner child should be prescribed by Doctors to help treat depression. It’s free, it’s fun and life is too short not too!
Just the sort of fun post I like reading with my morning coffee!
You’re my kind of lady Debbie! Loads of fun!
I love the examples of how you keep young at heart. Good for you!
I am grinning ear to ear right now – I LOVE this entire list!
We do a lot of play around here but I think there’s always room to add a little childhood fun back into my day. Sharing these awesome ideas! :)
I’m delighted you enjoyed this list of fun/silly things. We like to have fun around here… but we could always add more as well.
What great ideas!!! I used to LOVE forts…blanket forts, forts I made in my dad’s garden, furniture forts. I should make one again :-p Love this, Jennifer!
You should make a blanket fort and eat treats and read a book in it! It’s so much fun!
I’m glad you enjoyed this Kelli!
So basically live and be with your kids?! lol couldn’t agree more! LOVE this as usual!
Yes! Live it up (kid-style)!
I’m delighted you enjoyed this Kristen!
I love connecting with my inner child… In fact, I’m not sure I ever grew out of it completely! My favorite thing to do is have loud singing sessions where I start off singing as best as I can and then end up singing with excess force or in a whisper.. or in a goofy voice… and then it turns into my toddler and I having a “sing off”! That NEVER gets old at my house… at least not for my daughter and I. :)
Great list! However, I am too old now for rolling down a hill or spinning in circles… unless I take Dramamine ahead of time, then I’m game!! :)
I get nauseated from too much spinning too but I can handle a little bit of spinning and log rolling!
I’m delighted you enjoyed this list Monica!
I forgot to add how much I LOVE all your pictures!! Especially the costume one… and the muddy one! THAT LOOKS AWESOME!
Oh and my husband and I actually just had a sword fight recently with dead pompous grass stalks. That was incredibly fun and definitely brought out our inner child. =)
LOL – I’m glad you enjoyed the pictures (and I’m so glad you came back to tell me so)! Trust me to share silly pictures of myself on the interwebs!
The sword fight sounds fun lol – thanks for sharing that.
That is such a great list! Remembering not to be so serious all the time just because we’re “adults” is definitely one of they keys to happiness in my opinion. Just a few weeks ago I was at the park near our house with the boys next door and I did somersaults down a hill. It had been quite a while since I’d done one but it was too much fun!
Keep playing :)
I’m glad you enjoyed this Katy and I loved hearing how you keep playing! We took the girls to the play ground this evening and I’m wondering who played more… them or me?!
Hiya Jennifer!!
(I’m baaaaaack)
Hide the chocolate and Swedish fish.
This is my favorite post yet.
Get in touch with your inner child? Crud, lady—I switch places altogether and forget to go BACK!!
Your list was fantastic…and may I say the playing in MUD was my favorite. That’s the one thing on the list I have not done.
BY THE WAY….I think someone likes Superman a little TOO much there (but Evan still looks a lot like ‘Non’—just feed him some more, hehe…).
Yes, I know my comics =)
Ahhhh, life is good and it feels wonderful to live life more like a child—to appreciate what’s around us.
Fantastic article.
Have a great week and weekend Jennifer!
Jaime Buckley
Okay Jaime… that’s your goal for this summer. Play in the mud! Your kids will LOVE it!! It’s soooo much fun!
Ding, ding, ding! Superman II was my favourite superhero movie (I know cheese-ball). Evan and I went to a birthday party which was themed as Villains vs. Heroes. There weren’t very many villains but we gave the heroes a run for their money with our costumes.
I’m delighted you enjoyed this post (and thanks for sharing)!
I desperately need to play more! I get so caught up in to-do lists and chores as well. It’s far too easy to put playtime on the back burner. These are fantastic ideas, Jennifer. I love cloud watching. It’s so relaxing. I think I’m going to buy myself a cape to wear while doing dishes and laundry :). What a statement that would be!
Yes! Get yourself a cape my friend! You deserve it!
I try to play every day. It keeps me happy and connected with my kiddos.
So fun! Something hubs and I love to do is play jokes on each other – dumping cold water on him while he’s in the shower (just a cup), or hiding a rubber snake (or a belt or something plastic) down in the bed for when he slides in at night. These things keep us young! (We’ve been married 28 years this month!)
Thanks so much for hosting!
Oh what fun! 28 years… that’s awesome! Congratulations!
Love Love Love this! I am a serious person by nature, and I so enjoy when I do just put aside the to-do list and have some silly fun with my kiddos. Gonna make it a priority this summer. Thanks for the reminder. ;)
I’m delighted you enjoyed this Lynn! I would love to hear what silly shenanigans you get into with your kids!
I do think people need to play more. I am well connected with my inner child. I think it comes from having multiple health problems. That sounds weird, but knowing life is for living while your here changes ones perspective big time. I can’t do some things, but I can still grab joy. Life is good. Have fun!
We need to maintain that playfulness even in the midst of health issues. Christ and joy are awesome healers. I’m delighted to hear you have a playful spirit Donna – that’s awesome!
These are such fun tips! I was given a bike for Christmas and I ride around the cup-de-sac with my kids.
LOL that’s awesome Melissa! I could have guessed you had a playful spirit in you!
You know what I love about this (aside from your fab ideas. Going to make some time for cloud watching btw. Thanks for reminding me!)? The photos of you actually indulging your inner-child. I love the mud pie one (it almost looks like you were getting a facial!). It’s one thing to suggest these activities, but it’s another thing to actually follow through, and indeed you did! You’re awesome, lady! I’m so so glad that I get to read through your blog. I’m learning so much as a first time mom, and that’s thanks, in part, to you! Have a good one, Jennifer!
I’m so delighted you enjoyed this and I’m thrilled you liked my photos. I loved sharing them.
I did some cloud watching on the weekend. Such bliss!
I cannot even tell you the ways I love this post, Jennifer. I was just thinking of this a month or two ago. Why DO we have to be so serious all the time???? And how much better would the rest of our lives be if we remembered to play more? How much happier would we all be? Love. This. Post. xo
I’m so delighted you enjoyed this post Topaz! The whimsy of play keeps us happy and young.
Love this so much! I think since I have little ones and I teach high school, I am constantly surrounded by young people. It makes me feel younger! My students know I can get crazy with them :)
I agree that surrounding ourselves with young people contributes to us feeling younger (and happier)!
So awesome! I’m going to start doing laundry with a cape. I mean, we’re super women after all, right? Lol. Such a fun list, Jennifer!
You should totally get a cape Kristy!
I’m so glad you enjoyed this.
I love how sometimes the universe just takes care of us….this post really hit home. It’s been a stressful (but good) week and I think I will feel a rush of energy if I focus on some of these fun adventures. I think I might dress up in costume and walk around the neighborhood with my son. I can’t wait to share the neighbors comments. :)
If you walk around your neighbourhood in a costume, I want to see the photos! lol
I’m delighted that you enjoyed this and that it came at the right time.
Okay, I TOTALLY want to roll down a hill like a log with you, I can only imagine the snort laughing that would go on LOL. Love these ideas and I LOVE these pictures of you!!! The bike one made me laugh out loud, you are such an awesome and fun mom.
We would totally be snort laughing.
I’m delighted you enjoyed this post (and the pictures)!