10 Lessons from a 10-Year-Old

Life is full of lessons, and we learn them at different times. We may learn a lesson one day, but then forget it and have to relearn it. But kids learn through a differently than adults. A young child has an innocence without the tainted lens of adult experiences. Children tend to see things plainly for what they are. Because of this, children can actually teach parents a few important life lessons sometimes. Here are 10 tips and life lessons from the 10-year-old Founder of Boomshuga:

1/ Each one of us is unique.

We all have our own strengths, weaknesses and interests. We all have our own personalities and stories. Each person has their own life to live and they live it in their way, just like you do yours. You are not a failure if someone else did something better than you or if you didn't achieve what someone else has achieved. In fact, there is always something that you are amazing at that not a lot of other people are. Utilize your strengths the best you can. Don't compare yourself to others because there's no way for everyone to be the same! But most importantly, love yourself, and embrace who you are because there is no one else who can ever take your place.

2/ Nothing is impossible.

If you want something, anything at all, you can do it. But to accomplish what you want, you must work hard and have perseverance. Setbacks are normal and they will happen along the way; sometimes they may even feel like they're permanent. However, if we keep pushing forward after every setback, focus on the goal, and expect great things—if we don't give up—then eventually we'll reach our goal!

3/ Hugs are powerful.

Hugs are powerful. They can literally change your body chemistry and make you feel better. Hugs are good for your health and may even be able to help you live longer. Hugs might even be able to help you get over a cold faster or reduce pain caused by headaches, backaches, muscle spasms and more!

Hugging releases oxytocin which is known as the "love hormone" or "cuddle chemical." This hormone helps us bond with one another by increasing feelings of trust, empathy and connection between people. It also reduces stress hormones such as cortisol that cause anxiety. So never underestimate the importance of a hug from mom. It improves a child's overall well-being, as well as fosters a healthy family life.

4/ Real friends love you EVEN when you make mistakes or don't share their interests.

No one is perfect. Isn't it a wonderful blessing when you are loved even through your bad days? When people show you kindness, especially through the days when you are faced with challenges, and you haven't been as kind or considerate as usual, it can be uplifting. It can change your whole mood or perspective and help brighten your day. It's an even better feeling when you can do this for others, as well. You wouldn't feel nice if you realized people are only your friends in the good times, but not the bad. So don't be that kind of part-time friend to others, as well. Recognize that we are all human, so we all make mistakes, and we all have bad days. Be the friend that is there through it all.

5/ We must take responsibility for our actions, and make the right choices.

We all have power over our lives. We may not have control over the actions of others or the situation around us, but we do have control over how we react to those situations. For example, if someone says something mean to us, we have the choice to fight and respond with something mean in return, or we can choose to walk away, or we can choose to stand up for ourselves without hatred, but with respect and kindness.

It is a good idea to teach children how to look at all their options when reacting to a situation. Empower children with the tools, knowledge, ideas, and skills needed to make better choices for their personal growth. Good manners and respect go a long way, but not only for others. It's even more important to teach kids to treat themselves with respect, as well. Teaching a child to love and respect themselves will lead to that child making decisions that will be better for them in the long run.

6/ It's important to enjoy life, like by laughing at jokes and being silly with family, because it makes us happier.

There's no better way to enjoy life than by laughing at jokes and being silly with loved ones. Laughing is the best medicine, it's a great way to relieve stress, make you feel better about yourself, help you connect with people, and—of course—it's contagious! You'll find that the more you laugh the easier it is to start a conversation with others. And most importantly, it's fun!

7/ Whenever there is an opportunity to help someone and we can, do it.

It doesn't matter if they are not our loved ones. It can even be a stranger on the street. If you can help, do it! The person who needs help may not ask for it. They may be shy or embarrassed in some way that prevents them from asking for assistance. Maybe they feel like nobody cares about their situation and will judge them harshly if they ask for help. Once kids learn this, they became more compassionate toward those around them and less judgmental toward themselves when things don't go according to plan (which happens quite often as we all know).

Be the example for them, let your children see you helping others, and it will instill the same values in them, from childhood all throughout their adult years.

8/ Never ever, ever, ever, ever give up.

The importance of never giving up is that you realize that once you keep going, great things happen. Dream big and work hard. As long as you set your mind to what you want, and prepare to work towards it, you will be successful in your endeavors. Hard work is essential for a successful future, but many children feel like giving up when things are hard. We must show them the process of getting back up and finishing what was started. Then they will realize their ability to do anything they set their minds to. This is another one of the very important life lessons that offer children personal growth.

Never give up on your dreams or goals. The world needs more dreamers and goal-setters!

9/ When something seems too big or too hard to do, break them down into smaller parts and tackle them one step at a time.

A lot of the things we think are too big or too hard to do can actually be broken down into smaller tasks that are much easier to accomplish. Instead of thinking it is too difficult to larn a whole song on the piano, try breaking into down into parts. First learn the first line, then practice that one line over and over until you're a pro. It's not so bad learning one line! Great! Now move on to the next part, and learn that well. Before you know it, you know all the small parts and it's easy to put them together. Now guess what... You've learned the whole song!

Giving kids the resources to accomplish new things will motivate them to do more.

10/ There is always a lot to be grateful for, even in your darkest days.

Gratitude is a great way to help you feel happier and more positive. Gratitude helps you appreciate what you have, rather than focusing on what you don't have. It helps you be more present and find joy in the little things. Teaching children gratitude is an important part of childhood development, and it helps to create an overall happier life as adults.

On of the best ways to cultivate gratitude and overall great emotional health is by utilizing a daily journal. It easily guides kids (and adults) to reflect on the day, where they could have reacted better and how, what was really good and what they could be extra grateful for, how they can make it better, etc. Check out this one from Boomshuga. Five minutes before bedtime can show a significant postitive change in your child.

Conclusion

Out of all the life lessons that I've tried to teach my 10-year-old, these are the ones that have had the most impact on her and the ones she teaches other kids, as well. These are the lessons that have given her support, hope, and more. Yes, as parents, we teach kids to be responsible, treat others with respect, have good manners, know right from wrong, and take education seriously, among others. But being taught skills that enrich their lives, cultivate healthy feelings from a young age, and make them ready to take on anything the world throws at them... that is essential to raising happy kids.

Just remember, the best way for kids to learn about the world around them and how to navigate through life successfully and happily is by learning from their parents and learning from a young age.