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For me, spending my weekends well are such a key part in how I perform at my job, how I build and keep strong relationships, and how I gain mental clarity and improve my health. When I got Nicole Booz’s Kidult Handbook in the mail, I was curious as to what a weekend of Kidulting would do for me, thinking back to how curious, creative and carefree I was as a child. I was intrigued, but it wasn’t until I dove into this 160-idea handbook that I took a blast into the past and was excited to try using my weekend to ‘kidult.’
What is Kidulting?
Popular among my generation, the term ‘kidulting’ refers to engaging in activities from your childhood, whether it’s exactly how you did it as a kid or putting an adult spin on the activity.
Kidulting takes you back to a simpler time when you were just a curious, worry-free kid, not thinking about paying off loans or getting through a tough workday – back when you had a lighter load and mind. Per Psychology Today, playing like a kid helps you look at the world with fresh eyes, which allows you to slow down and focus.
Weekend Agenda
To refresh and recharge through Kidulting, here are some of my highlights from the handbook that make up a perfect weekend for me:
Morning:
- Enjoy a slow morning in the outdoors by laying in a hammock and reading your favorite childhood books. It doesn’t matter how silly or slow they are for you – relive what you liked about them in the first place.
- Go on a nature walk. There’s only one rule – no destinations! Don’t plan your path… walk and wander.
Afternoon:
- Go cloud watching – without Instagram, without your smartphone… just your imagination! Call out what you see and watch it drift by.
- Play some games! Remember MASH (Mansion, Apartment, Shack, House)? Or capture the flag? Or a water balloon toss? I CANNOT WAIT to try these again!!!
- Craft time is the best time, duh! Pine cone bird feeders and homemade bookmarks are just two of the crafts that reminded me of my childhood in this book!
Evening:
- Get the campfire going! Snack on homemade Dunkaroos and campfire nachos. This handbook has some STELLAR recipes for goodies – these were just two of my favorites!
- Tell campfire stories. Did anyone else have a plastic echo-y microphone for these? Bring that back, pass it around and get creative!
These are just a select few of the 160+ activities that can bring you back to your childhood – and I bet you’ll be surprised at how many of them spike your nostalgia and interest! Kidulting is such a good way to relieve stress, ground yourself and get back into focus. No matter how silly it seems, it’s worth a weekend of picking up Nicole’s book and trying some activities from the good old days.
Rachel Enerson 