We often correspond older age to knowledge, maturity, and power. However, while working with children every day this summer, I have come to realize the qualities kids have mastered without even realizing it.

1. Creativity

There is no mind as vibrant and lively as that of a child. They imagine better than us. They play better than us. They have fun better than us. They create better than us. They think in colors we couldn’t dream of. They are the epitome of stepping outside of the box.

2. Love

It doesn’t matter who you are, where you live, or what you’ve done- they will love you. They will love you unconditionally. The innocence and sensitivity in their brand new souls gives them bigger hearts. Through thick and thin, they are true to you. We’re drawn to children because of the free love they give to anyone and everyone.

3. Communication

Kids are better at face-to-face conversations. They speak honestly (sometimes bluntly) and are not afraid to speak their mind. They have not been tainted by society and social media. They possess the ability to ask questions and tell people what they are feeling when they are feeling it. They relay their emotions, and they do not hold back.

4. Self-Confidence

A child does not worry if their hair is Instagram worthy or if the activities they participate in are interesting enough for Snapchat. They do not feel the pressures of moving to the top of the work force or being interesting enough for an interview. They feel complete without the world’s approval. They are comfortable in their own skin. They love themselves at a level that is not only commendable, it's endearing.

5. Forgiveness

Children forgive faster than anyone I know. They don’t hold grudges. They let it go and they move on as if nothing ever happened. If you do something wrong to them one day, they will forget about it the next. They pass out second chances like candy on Halloween. It’s one of the greatest qualities they possess.

6. Hope

There is always a way out in a child's mind. The idea of something being unrealistic is not only foreign, it is entirely disregarded. They do not stress on the level we do. They accept things as they are. In a child’s mind, magic, heroism, and goodness will always prevail.

7. Happiness

Perhaps more than anything else, children are inexplicably happy. They smile more. They laugh more. They carry with them a joy and a excitement for life that adults are constantly striving for. Unlike many of us, they do not need much to be content. They appreciate the little things. All of the factors above accumulate to create one thing: a happy life.

There is a reason we get nostalgic while watching our favorite childhood television shows or seeing our worn out toys in old boxes. It's not just about the things we did or had, it's about who we were. Let's be kids again.