To celebrate the beauty of youth and also inject some humor into your day, we’ve compiled a list of the most hilarious and ridiculous things folks truly believed when they were young. Who knows, maybe you’ll relate to some of these things!
More info: Reddit
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Kids’ imaginations have almost no limits. Since they haven’t had many experiences, their minds are naturally curious about anything and everything. Although it might be easy for parents to dismiss their children’s thoughts as fantasy or silly, it’s important to understand why kids think this way.
To understand how children can think and imagine this way, Bored Panda contacted Jane McKay, the founder of Creative Kids Art Lessons. She is a professional artist and primary classroom teacher with over 30 years of experience. Creative Kids Art Lessons provides lesson plans for teachers, homeschoolers, and parents who want to do art projects with their children at home.
Jane explained that “children don’t have constraints on what is possible or logical, so their imagination runs wild. Children are also learning all the time, it is literally their job description to learn! So, they use their imagination and creativity every day. Children also have time to play, experiment, and explore. The integration of new experiences and ideas through play also feeds their imagination.”
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You might laugh at some of the things mentioned in this list. But if you look closely, you’ll realize that these childish thoughts show just how limitless children believe the world is. The laws of gravity, the rules of nature, and the boundaries of time and space are no match for a kid’s imagination.
This kind of thinking is also important for problem-solving. It can help a growing child see beyond the existing rules of the world and consider new ways to approach almost every situation.
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#8
Every morning my day would start with me thinking my mom is up to crime again and then head off to school.
#9
It’s essential for parents to foster their children’s creative thinking. However, some experts say that a very overactive imagination may not always be a good thing, especially if a child is always lost in daydreams or prefers to hang out with imaginary friends over real friends.
Jane shared a different perspective. She explained that “people with overactive imaginations become writers, movie directors, artists, entrepreneurs, dancers, musicians and other types of creatives. These are the problem solvers of the world; creativity is essentially solving problems. That is what the world needs now, though people with overactive imaginations just may not be able to handle scary movies!”
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The best way for kids to develop a healthy and curious mind is through reading stories, playing with open-ended toys, making art, spending time in nature, and engaging in pretend play. They should also be allowed to ask questions and share their thoughts without the worry of being laughed at or criticized.
Jane shared that “anything creative, [like] writing, music, cooking, exploring the outdoors, drawing, making things, and reading all aid the development of ideas, and each creative area feeds into other areas of the imagination. Children thrive on encouragement and support. Let them play, make a mess, use old cardboard boxes to make a car, a fort, or a treehouse. Provide art materials, paper, and pencils so children can create.”
“If you can afford extra classes in the area of your child’s interest, look into those, so you get an expert expanding their experiences. Also, allow time for your child to play; don’t over-schedule kids so they have something every day after school and on weekends. Allowing kids to get bored is also good. They have to come up with ideas of what to do themselves,” she added.
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#14
My parents told me this. My siblings and I would never turn on the interior lights while the car was moving for the fear of my parents being arrested. .
#15
My mother would tell us that we should listen carefully when the sun was setting over the ocean because it would sizzle. (You know how when you put out a fire with water)
My sister and I went out of our ways to pretend to hear that.
If there’s one thing you take away from this list, it’s the importance of fostering your imagination. The saddest part about growing older is that you lose childhood whimsy. This happens because people often worry that it’s not socially acceptable to daydream or imagine things.
People even think it’s not mature to have silly, ridiculous, or over-the-top ideas. Therefore, in adulthood, insecurity takes center stage, and our childhood imagination takes a backseat. We should try our best to undo this.
Jane also said that “as adults, we tend to stick with things we know how to do and are not often out of our comfort zone, so we tend not to be as creative. Sadly, as adults, we also don’t allow much time to play or try new things.”
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#17
(My Dad told me this story).
#18
Even though some of the thoughts shared on this list might seem childish, it’s important to hold onto some of that whimsy. A little creativity and imagination never hurt anyone and can lend a spark of positivity to dull days.
Now it’s your turn to share! What are some ridiculous things you believed as a child that you may or may not still believe today?
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#20
When you ate something that it went all the way down to your feet.
That queen bees wore a crown.
That the stain on the kitchen wall was watching me 😂.