Children possess a unique set of skills and attributes that set them apart from adults. While adults have the advantage of experience and maturity, there are several areas in which children excel. In this essay, we will explore some of these areas of superiority, highlighting how children often outperform adults and why these skills are significant for their overall development.
1. Imagination and Creativity:
One area where children undoubtedly surpass adults is their exceptional imagination and creativity. Children have the ability to see the world through a lens unburdened by reality and limitations. They can conjure up whimsical creatures, create imaginative stories, and build entire worlds with their limitless creativity. This unrestricted imagination fuels their playtime, storytelling, and artistic endeavors. Unlike adults who can be restricted by logic and conventions, children’s imagination allows them to explore and embrace endless possibilities.
2. Learning Languages:
Another fascinating aspect where children often outstrip adults is language learning. Research shows that children have a remarkable ability to acquire new languages effortlessly, surpassing adults in both speed and efficiency. The younger a child is, the easier it becomes for them to pick up new languages. They possess a linguistic plasticity that allows them to learn multiple languages simultaneously without confusion, often achieving native-like fluency. In contrast, adults usually struggle with pronunciation, syntax, and vocabulary while learning a new language due to the cognitive limitations of their more rigid linguistic systems.
3. Learning by Observation:
Children possess a distinct advantage over adults when it comes to learning by observation. They have an innate ability to observe, mimic, and model behaviors and actions they witness around them. This learning method, often referred to as observational learning or social learning, enables children to acquire new skills and knowledge by imitating others. They learn how to speak, walk, eat, and interact with the world primarily by observing and imitating the behaviors of their parents, siblings, and peers. This observational learning approach of children is particularly effective during their early developmental years, allowing them to absorb vast amounts of information from their environment and rapidly develop new skills.
4. Enjoying the Present Moment:
Children are experts in living in the present and cherishing the moment. They possess a remarkable ability to be fully immersed in their current activities, embracing them with unparalleled enthusiasm. Their genuine and unfiltered enjoyment of simple pleasures enables them to fully experience and appreciate the beauty of the present moment. Children can find profound joy in playing with toys, exploring nature, or engaging in imaginative play without being burdened by future worries or past regrets. This ability to be present and fully engaged in the moment is an invaluable skill that often eludes most adults, who frequently find themselves preoccupied with the past or future.
5. Overcoming Failure and Rejection:
Children typically exhibit remarkable resilience when it comes to encountering failure and rejection. They have a more optimistic and determined mindset that allows them to bounce back from setbacks more readily than adults. Children often approach challenges with a sense of curiosity and adventure, embracing the opportunity to learn and grow. They do not assign negative meanings or judgment to failure or rejection, seeing them instead as valuable feedback and stepping stones towards success. In contrast, adults tend to become demotivated or discouraged by failures and rejections due to societal conditioning and the accumulation of past experiences, which can hinder their ability to bounce back and persist in the face of adversity.
6. Unfiltered Honesty:
Children are renowned for their unfiltered honesty. Their innocence and lack of filtering mechanisms enable them to express their thoughts and opinions without restraint or fear of judgment. While adults often navigate social situations and filter their expressions based on societal norms and expectations, children offer a refreshing dose of sincerity. Their uninhibited honesty can provide valuable insights and perspectives that may be missed by adults who are more cautious or diplomatic in their communication style.
7. Playfulness and Verve:
Children’s exuberant energy and zest for life are unparalleled. They naturally approach life with a playful curiosity that enables them to explore the world around them with unfettered enthusiasm. Their playful nature allows them to think outside the box, generate novel ideas, and approach problem-solving with a fresh perspective. This playfulness is not only vital for their overall happiness but also for their cognitive and social development. Despite the many benefits of play, adults often struggle to maintain the same level of playfulness and creativity, weighed down by responsibilities and the pressures of adult life.
In conclusion, while adults possess a wealth of knowledge and experience gained over time, children have their unique set of skills and attributes that set them apart. Their boundless imagination, aptitude for language learning, observational skills, ability to enjoy the present moment, resilience, unfiltered honesty, and natural playfulness are just a few areas where children often outshine adults. Valuing and nurturing these skills in children is crucial for their holistic development, enabling them to harness their innate potential and embrace the joy and wonder of childhood.
Hide and seek
Getting up from a chair without groaning.
Opening child-proof bottles.
My son pointed out there are tones we can’t here as adults that kids can, and some of the little buggers will set their ringtones to it so we as teachers can’t hear them but they can.
Clever girl.
Having fun
learning languages
falling from their bikes
Being direct and honest.
Learning. Kids have a much easier time learning anything new because of neuroplasticity. Also, they’re usually much more creative and curious.
Learning new languages!
Being honest. Brutally honest. Standing around with people at the pool and all the dudes are pointing out how disgusting we are because of our potbellies. 10 yr old boy pokes one of the girls standing with us and says “She’s got one too”
Imagination with anything. My son gets excited about card board boxes more than any toy.
sleeping
Sleeping without waking up hurting
Enjoying life. Ignorance is bliss and when you’re young, you got plenty of ignorance.
making friends
crying
Video games. By a huge margin.
SPEED i swear i try to run after one in a game of tag and i run out of breath in like 10 seconds and there like a mile away
Being curious
Growing up
Being loved?
Being young.
Going down stairs on their butts.
Edit: down stairs, not “downstairs”
Learning languages
Pissing the bed while sober
Recovery
Not caring about their appearance
Changing their opinions.
Being honest
Running around for hours with seemingly endless energy (mine runs circles around me while we are out in the garden and I get tired just watching)
Really getting down to the “why” of everything (mine is asking why for everything; ie why is tan called tan?)
Coming up with unique combinations of things (I’ve never seen so many combinations of random stuff laying round used in so many imaginative scenarios, it’s quite impressive)
Archeologist friend said he loved having school children on field trips – because he would set them free and say to bring back what they thought were artifacts.
9/10 it was garbage but occasionally a kid would grab something he would never find because they had no bias about what they picked up and they were closer to the ground to find shit.
Running :,)
Fucking around with a gadget and making it do something productive within seconds.
​
Shameless expressions of joy and gratitude.
Working technology now days lol
Being genuine
Seeing
Smelling
Having fun
Being curios
Hearing
Making Friends
Having adventures
Kids on top anything I.C.T
Being sick. Children with serious illnesses are way more resilient than adults.
Imagination.
Imagination
Humanity
Enjoying life and being genuinely happy.
Friendships. Adults are fucking flaky. I know it’s usually not on purpose but goddamn if it isn’t annoying.
Making friends for sure.
My 3 year old basically assumes every kid is a friend. “Hey, let’s play together and be friends”. Problem resolves itself.
No need to impress each other, no grand standing, no social status dick measurements, no playing hard to get / to impress. They just go and play together. Amazing.
Adults are so full of themselves and carry so much baggage with them, it is fucking disgusting.
Not crossing serious boundaries. Everyone thinks that kids are going to be rude, weird, or intrusive about my disability, but not once has a child asked me about my penis or my sex life. Most adults do it because they view me like a carnival side show, not because they’re interested in me.