Remember the good old days when you had enforced naptimes, your favorite food was made by your mom, and you didn't have much to worry about? Ah yes, that was the life....the life of a four-year-old. Even though you are now more independent and, hopefully, a little smarter, there aren't many differences between college students and four-year-olds. To elaborate, here are sixteen ways that college students are literally grown-up preschoolers.
1. Wears Clothes That Do Not Match (Or Match A Little Too Well)
Regardless of if you're four or twenty, you see absolutely nothing wrong with wearing clothing that doesn't match. In fact, you might even sport a "graufit" (heather gray on heather gray) on occasion.
2. Puts Shoes On The Wrong Foot
Like a typical preschooler, college students often have these moments of foot confusion. Most often, it involves flip flops, crocs, and moccasin slippers.
3. Whines and Complains At Least Once A Day
Why are college students so whiny and moody? For the same reasons that four-year-olds are: lack of sleep, activity overload, growth hormones... the list goes on and on.
4. Cries. A Lot.
Ironically, both age-groups have the occasional outburst that looks exactly like this. When this type of meltdown occurs, you can't usually get a straightforward answer as to why the person is so upset; the typical response after being asked "what's wrong?" is usually a blubbering sequence followed by a distressed deep, choppy breath.
5. Are Always Hungry
6. Loves Goldfish and Poptarts
7. Wants Everything But Can't Afford to Buy Anything
When you're four, you're poor. You might have a piggy bank full of change that you get for doing small chores like cleaning your room or helping mom around the house. You save up your money to get a toy from Walmart, an ice cream cone from the ice cream shop, or a few knick-knacks from the Dollar Store. When you're in college, you are more than likely going to be swimming in loans and bills, so getting a tad overexcited about finding a dollar in quarters is completely understandable.
8. Does Not Like to Clean Their Room
Admit it: whether you're in college or in preschool, one thing that you often neglect to do is clean your room. However, when you do clean your room, it eventually reverts back to being a catastrophe, so what's the point of cleaning anyway?9. Needs A Naptime
Just as most four-year-olds do, college students usually need at least one nap a day. The difference between four-year-old's naps and college student's naps? The college student anticipates naptime while the four-year-old usually dreads it. Regardless, both usually end up snoozing for a little while.
10. Is Always Down To Watch A Disney Movie
Shout out to all the Disney fans here, both young and old. Fortunately for college students, where there is one Disney fan, there is more than likely another within a residence hall. Disney is a solid way to make new friends who are just like you: a kid at heart. #noshame
11. Gets Distracted All Too Easily
Distractions, distractions, distractions. Just as a preschooler gets distracted by shiny objects and other stimuli, it's the same way for a college student: One minute, you're doing your homework at your desk. The next, you're cleaning your room and reading great Odyssey articles about how you relate to a four-year-old and not doing anything productive towards your homework. (But that's okay. You deserve a break.)
12. Wants To Stay Up Later Than They Should
Even though sleep is essential for a healthy life, college students and preschoolers often try to coax their way into a late bedtime, even if they have a "long day ahead of them" or an 8 AM class.
13. Would Live In Pajamas If It Were Socially Acceptable
When you have to wake up early for daycare or to go to preschool, life is tough. Sadly, it doesn't get any better when you get to college. That desire to wear your PJs 24/7 never goes away, either. The good news is that, just like in preschool, no one in college will judge you for showing up to class in your pajamas every once in awhile.
14. Struggles To Do Their Own Laundry
More than one student has come up to me asking how to use the washer and dryer in the dorm laundry room. The first time this happened, I couldn't help but think of a little kid trying to do adult things and needing help with getting their task started.
15. Wears Light-Up Sneakers
Even though college students don't have the option to sport Dora or Spongebob on their kicks, some of us still love to have our shoes light up.
16. Looks To Family For Support
When you're four, you have no other option than to look to your parents and families for love, support, and the necessities of life. This also doesn't change when you go to college. You still ask them for money, call them when you're sad or upset, and use their washing machine whenever you have the chance to go home.
