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As we age, we lose part of our innocence with each passing day(Childhood Joys Adults), as the reality of aging sets in, and all that was once new loses its shine. When we were young, everything excited us; now, some of us spend our entire adult lives trying to rediscover that feeling. In what ways did we find joy as children? Here are 15 Childhood Joys Adults Wish They Could Experience Again
1. Dancing
When I was a young boy, Michael Jackson was at the top of his game — jumping from the ground shaking “Thriller” to the excellent “Bad.” During this period, every kid I knew wanted to learn M.J.’s moves or at least any kind of dance moves. Fast forward to adult life, and the only philosophy some of us have is that dancing is for young people with no mortgage to pay.
2. Attending the Movie Theater
While many adults still feel excited as they zip up their Captain America outfit before the next Marvel premiere, they may be in the minority. American adults surveyed between 2018 and 2022 showed a rise in preference for watching movies at home as opposed to the theater, says Statista. Cinema can still bring movie lovers joy if conditions are right — it all depends on the movie, showing time, and day.
3. Innocent Criminality
Young people form their schemata (way of operating) through trial and error, with the occasional bout of criminality thrown in. Throwing things was a personal favorite for me. Growing up, we had a line of fruit trees in our garden; each fall, my brothers and I thought nothing of launching windfallen, rotting apples with tennis rackets, waiting for the inevitable bang when it landed in another random garden.
4. Climbing Trees
Who didn’t love climbing trees when they were young? Head down to any local park on a sunny day in the ’80s and ’90s; you will find kids climbing trees. However, a 2016 study by the University of Phoenix surveyed 1,600 parents who let their kids climb trees, and 2% reported broken bones. While for some parents, this is 2% too many injuries, research also shows that risk-based play is essential for kids’ emotional growth.
5. Eating Candy
When we were young, we could eat a whole bag of candy until our gums hurt without considering the dietary consequences. However, those of us with years of nutritional knowledge feel pangs of guilt when even a Snickers bar crosses our lips. There used to be a sense of achievement in destroying an entire bag of Jolly Ranchers — now there might be an existential crisis.
6. Calling Friends
In the days before cell phones, we called each other on house phones at random times and for no apparent reason. Some kids would get a jolt of excitement when the family phone rang for them, knowing they would be chatting to their friends — the only problem was the inevitable eavesdropping from siblings. A Psychology Today article argues that we should re-adopt this habit. “Instead of listening to your 43rd podcast telling you how you should think outside of the box,” says Bruce Y. Lee M.D., M.B.A., “get out of your box and call your friends.”
7. Christmas
Christmas is something that might not lose its charm for some; for others, it becomes a rigorous exercise in fiscal restraint, panic, and relief. Admittedly, the feeling of seeing your children’s eyes light up when they open their gifts is worth it, but it doesn’t compare to the joy we felt sitting in their position. Moreover, with the economic turmoil around us, some parents have had enough of Santa getting all the credit.
8. Renting Videos
Watching a film used to be a special occasion for some kids — on-demand streaming was decades away, and we had to wait until cable showed movies. Renting a video with the family was a typical ’80s and ’90s event; we would watch the credits, marvel at the video cassette artwork, and become emotionally involved with every facet of the movie. Does anyone treat movies in the same manner anymore?
9. Getting Everything for Free
An obvious change as we age is our inability to live off our parents — most of us, anyway. It makes sense that independence comes with a price, but who wouldn’t relish that feeling of being pampered by those who love you most again? The trick now is to have children and switch the joy to being the provider.
10. Snow Days
Okay, I will admit that some adults (namely teachers) are giddy with delirium when their school county announces a snow day. There are fewer sensations better than waking up with a full day ahead of you, only to discover you will be spending it making a snowman, throwing snowballs, or sledding in the local park. For adults, it means shoveling the driveway, stopping the pipes from freezing, and praying you have enough supplies for your family.
11. Playing With Toys
Some might argue that adults never stop playing with toy cars; it’s just that the toys come with engines or motors. However, before we are old enough to buy a real car, we might spend most of our childhood playing with their mini equivalents. I recall a brotherly favorite as racing two vehicles from opposing sides of the room into a collision before deciding which team fared best.
12. After School Television
In my native United Kingdom, we had an excellent roster of B.B.C. presenters, live-action series, and endless cartoons after school. Each day, there would be a specific program, with daily and weekly episodes of our favorite shows, followed by Newsround, a kid’s current affairs and news program featuring John Craven. Nowadays, kids have little to watch on British terrestrial T.V., usurped by retired seniors’ programming.
13. Birthday Parties
As a kid, nothing said “I have friends” more than seeing one’s closest buddies (and that one kid you were forced to invite) in the backyard for some piñata and tomfoolery. As an adult, birthday parties require far too much planning and have been replaced by birthday dinners, meetups, or weekends away a la The Hangover. Curiously, a YouGov poll found that the number one way American adults celebrate their birthday was “thanking God for being alive.”
14. Making Friends
It was so easy, wasn’t it? Making friends as a child meant spending a few hours within ten yards of one another; they just felt like friends before long. Failing this method, a simple verbal agreement that you both liked My Little Pony or He-Man figures was enough for a lifelong companion. Sadly, if you tried the proximity friend-making method today, you would likely be shot or arrested for stalking.
15. Being Frightened
There was something exhilarating about getting scared as a child, whether watching a horror movie, the wind in the tree outside your window, or being startled by creepy adults in real-life situations. A Kids Health feature argues that fear is healthy. “Fear helps protect us. It makes us alert to danger and prepares us to deal with it. Feeling afraid is very natural — and helpful — in some situations.” The best thing about watching horror movies as a kid is knowing all will return to the status quo soon enough.
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