What We can Learn from Watching Children
Ah, to be young and have so much ahead of you…
How Watching Children, Animals, and Nature can improve your health and well-being.
I find observing so many things interesting, amusing, enlightening, relaxing, and even inspiring. From children to people, animals, and nature, there is always something to learn and appreciate about ourselves, others, and the world.
As infants start to gain strength and mobility, watch their curious selves learn, grow, adapt, and change. As they start to roll over and lift their heads they are developing not only their minds, but also their muscles and their spines!
If adults had the inclination to behave as infants more often, get down and roll around on the ground like a curious child learning how their body works moves and functions, perhaps we would not only tap back into our playful inner child but also continue to enjoy a fuller range of motion as well as increased health throughout our lifetime?
Children are often so spirited. Curious and excited about life itself. So many are unafraid it seems. Experimenting with their bodies, voices, and the world that surrounds them. Constantly taking in new information and typically, at least in my experience, pretty joyful — sure, they all have their moments, but don’t adults too?
As a playful individual who still rolls around on the ground or floor, with my cats or just because, I feel like these behaviors are beneficial in a multitude of ways.
When Where Why and How do children change?
Is it because of society? Or perhaps through learned experiences? School? Sports? Family? Friends? Pain? Punishment verses Reward? Nature verses Nurture? How about, all of the above — at least, in my humble opinion.
Oh the possible articles and conversations are endless, but let’s keep it to the point I think I am making … What we can learn through our observations of the natural world and more specifically, children.
Notice how you age things feel different?
Inside your body is what I am referring to, not just the obvious school, work, life, family, etc. aspect of becoming and being an adult. We often do not still use our bodies in the curious and spontaneous ways of children. I think that is part of our health problem as we age.
Children are often always on the go, experimenting, putting themselves and their bodies into interesting positions, getting all the way down to the ground and back up… Not sitting or standing behind a desk, on concrete floors, in steal toed shoes, etc.
As adults, we learn somewhere along the line to be more rigid. We become very separated from our bodies, and even afraid of them. Many adults I have worked on as a medical and sports massage therapist, of all ages and fitness levels, do not play with their bodies or the sensations within them.
Just as we become desensitized to so many aspects of our lives within this world (whole other topic), we also become desensitized to ourselves, our emotions, our bodies, and how to interact with and within ourselves.
How do you think this has affected you, your body? How you feel and move in your body? How do you think this affects your mood and interactions with yourself and others?
How do you think this affects your health — think about the stress aspect alone?! How do you think this affects your attitude and brain, your thinking process, your response verses reaction process?
Do you think you could be happier, or at least more content?
Be Curious! Explore the sensations. Explore your feelings, your body, your self…
The list of possibilities could be endless! — Now that’s potential!
Behaving more like a child?
How can interacting in the world and your body more like an infant or toddler, positively impact your life? For starters, could it help to uncomplicate things from time to time, possibly resulting in a decrease of stress and an increase of joy.
Through more creative and exploratory movement, could you release energetic and physical blockages, creating an opportunity for increased ROM and overall well-being. By becoming more in touch with your body increase your awareness and intuitiveness, perhaps increasing your overall health and wellness? Isn’t the possibility of any and all of these thing and more, worth a try?
I would recommend taking it slowly, especially if it has been a while. As with making almost any changes, start slowly and carefully — we don’t want you hurting yourself, that is the exact opposite of our goal.
Tapping into your inner child.
I don’t know if you have noticed, but children often love to laugh, and often at the simplest things. Isn’t one of life’s true joys and pleasures finding happiness and enjoyment in the simplest of things?
Take time in your day to be with your thoughts and just observe them. I often become lost in thoughts and find myself laughing. In fact, did you know that the average 4 year old laughs 400 times a day?
I remember coming into contact with this information a few years back and it saddens me that so many adults laugh so little — on average only 4 times a day according to the article above. Take time, laugh. It’s good for you!
Children are so often easily amused (at least they used to be). I think adults need to be more easily amused. I think it increases satisfaction and overall joy in our lives.
Simply enjoying sitting outside and watching the honey bees and butterflies brings me so much joy and even amusement. It is also quite relaxing. I know we often say we don’t have the time… make it — it just might save your life in more ways than one!
As always, I could go on and on. Until next time.
As with so many things, it is how we look at a problem and choose to approach it, that can make all the difference in the world.
Thank you. Thank you more than words can say for reading, following, clapping, commenting, and trusting me however much you do. It is not without gratitude and appreciation to all those who support and who I hope to help along the way.
*** This has been Very Gently updated and made freely available on Medium, on February 2, 2024 ***
With love light blessings, and a prayer for a brighter happier healthier tomorrow…
This is “W”HolisticNerd with hopefully many more creative ways to open your mind, increase your awareness and understanding, and possibly even enlighten you with information you never knew you didn’t know … or maybe you did ;p
❤ ❤ ❤ Your Lovable Idealistic “W”HolisticNerd ❤ ❤ ❤
❤ ❤ Blessing, ❤ Peace, ❤ Love, and ❤ Light ❤ ❤
Disclaimer: Although I have personal and professional experience in the health and wellness field, including nutrition, I am not a certified/licensed nutritionist. I am a Certified Integrative Health Coach, Herbalist, LMT, Enthusiat, etc.. The information contained in this, or any, article is meant for educational and entertainment purposes only. The contents of this article are not meant to diagnose, treat or cure any disorder.
(Note: Any links/books/etc. mentioned in the article are NOT affiliate links, and I do NOT earn any commission.)
