5 Tricks to Help You Reconnect With Your Inner Child

What were you like as a child? Were you outgoing, rambunctious, and always laughing? Maybe you were more quiet and creative. Maybe you dreamt about being a musician, a writer, a firefighter, or a singing writer who fought fires in their spare time (this was literally what I wanted to be when I grew up).

No matter who you were, I think we can all agree on one thing – childhood is a precious time in the human experience. Despite the defenseless nature of children, they are fearless in their vulnerability. They are endlessly curious. They’re creative and imaginative. Children don’t judge themselves or imagine that others are judging them. They are joyful, playful, and free.

Julianne at about 4 years old. She is eating a cupcake and has icing on her face and nose. Eating a cupcake without worrying about the icing or calories is one way to reconnect with your inner child

But this stage doesn’t last for very long. Eventually, and some of us more quickly than others, we experience trauma, ridicule, and are told to “grow up”. Bit by bit our childlike innocence is stripped away until we become grownups. We spend most of our childhood imagining what it will be like to be a big kid, but once we actually do grow up we would do anything to go back.

What if you could go back? No, I haven’t invented a time machine (something I also dreamed of doing when I was a kid). But I have come to the realization that being a grown-up doesn’t mean we have to let go of all the characteristics that make childhood so magical.

That inner child is still inside you. It’s the part of your that’s joyful, playful, and sincere. How can you unlock that childlike nature and reconnect with your inner child again?

How to Reconnect with Your Inner Child

1. Take time to play.

Julianne at 5 years old. She has short blonde hair and a big smile. She is wearing a ballet costume and tiara and swirling a pink ribbon through the air. Playing is a great way to reconnect with your inner child.

This weekend, my family took a trip to my grandparent’s cabin (you might call it a cottage if you’re not in Newfoundland 😉). When we were growing up, my cousins and I loved visiting the cabin. We would swim, play games, and roast marshmallows over an open fire. But we’re all adults now, some of us with children of our own. Trips to the cottage are still amazing, but they don’t hold the same magic as they did when we were small.

But this time, something changed. My cousin’s kids started a game of hide and go seek, and soon all of the cousins had joined in just like they did when we were young. We ran until our faces were red and our bellies ached from laughter. And even when the kids left to go home, the big kids kept playing. I don’t think I’ve laughed that hard in a long time.

Play is so important to children, but we sometimes lose that love of play as we grow up. If you want to reconnect with your inner child, take some time to play. Let go of your inhibitions, be silly, and let yourself have fun. Play has the power to unlock the joy within you that you thought you might have lost.

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2. Revisit some of your childhood interests.

Julianne is blonde and 4 years old. She's lying on a emerald green couch and holding a teddy bear. She is wearing a black ballet leotard and pink ballet shoes. Dancing is a wonderful way to reconnect with your inner child.

What did you like doing as a child? Did you like to dance? Maybe you played a sport or an instrument? When reconnecting with your inner child, it’s the perfect time to revisit some of those activities. Just like with play, revisiting some old interests can spark some childlike excitement in you.

Another fun way to do this can be rewatching or rereading favourite childhood books, movies, or TV shows. Pop some popcorn and cozy up with some familiar old favourites. Remembering how much you loved these things, and more importantly, why you loved them so much, can help you reconnect with those feelings of childlike joy.

3. Spend time with children.

Julianne and her brother hug on a swingset. They are around 2 and 5 years old. Spending time with children in your life can help you reconnect with your inner child.

As a voice teacher, I spend time with children all day. It was actually the time I spend with them that made me want to reconnect with my inner child in the first place.

Children are impulsive. They’re creative and curious. They say what’s on their mind. Spending some time with them can help you find some of that magic for yourself! If you have kids, younger cousins, siblings, nieces, or nephews, why not spend some time in their world? Play pretend with them, climb a tree, or watch a movie. Being around their innocence and sweetness can help you bring that playful mindset into your own life.

4. Explore your creativity without judgement.

Julianne is around 4 years old. She sits inside a box wearing an oversized Tshirt and painting flowers on the inside of the box. Creaticity can help reconnect you with your inner child.

Adults can be creative too. But there’s a big difference between childlike creativity and what we experience as adults. All too often our ideas come with strings attached, rather than letting our imaginations flow freely. How often have you tried to create something but let your uncertainty hold you back? Kids don’t let the opinions of others stop them from creating. Letting go of that fear can help you let your imagination flow too.

Try writing, singing, dancing, or making art without wondering what others would think of it. Creating just for you can be a powerful way to reconnect with that creative child that just wants to express themselves without judgement.

Related post: 120 Self Care Ideas for a Well-Rounded Life

5. Write a letter to yourself as a child.

Julianne is around 3 years old. She is asleep in bed with her arm wrapped around a teddy bear. The innocence of children can help you reconnect with your inner child.

What did you need to hear as a child? Do you wish you had been told that you were perfect, beautiful, and loved? This letter is your chance to say all those things to your child self, forgive them for their mistakes, and thank them for all the growing they did to get you to where you are today.

As magical as childhood is, it can also hold a lot of pain for some people. That’s why a lot of therapists recommend inner child therapy to help you overcome that pain and reconnect with your inner child. Therapist Kati Morton has a beautiful video on inner child work, including some more guidance on writing your letter here.

Pin me for later!

What makes you feel most connected to your inner child? Let me know in the comments below!

106 thoughts on “5 Tricks to Help You Reconnect With Your Inner Child

  1. Such a real and interesting post! Reconnecting with my inner child is definitely something that I lack. So often – I try to prove to myself and others that I’m an “adult” and I need to prove to others how far I’ve come… so much so that I miss out on the FUN of life. Life is supposed to be silly and playful! Would love to get back to that side of myself. Thanks so much for sharing these charming suggestions!

    1. Thank you so much, Pam! You’re so right. Life should be fun! Your inner child could definitely help you rediscover that hidden part of yourself. Good luck!

      1. Thanks so much, Nimalee! That joy and excitement is still inside you, you just need to know how to rediscover it.

      2. Thanks so much, Nimalee! That joy and excitement are still inside you, you just need to know how to rediscover it.

  2. Yes! Yes! Yes! This is so awesome and great reminders. I know for sure for me getting down and playing with my kids brings back joyful memories for me.

    1. Thank you so much, Danielle! You are so right. Sometimes playing with kids can help you feel like a big kid again!

    1. Thank you, Tiffany! Suddenly as we get older we start judging ourselves on if our art is “good” or “bad”… As long as you’re having fun, who cares! Good luck on your journey 🙂

  3. I’ve recently been looking at old pictures and love that you provided tips to reconnect with your inner child in this post. I’m excited to be more creative without judgement.

    1. Thank you so much, Kimberlie! I had a great time looking through old pictures to include in this post too. It was so nostalgic! I’m excited about that for you, too 🙂

  4. This post is amazing. I was nearly tearing up in the first few paragraphs. As a child I was in a hurry to grow up. Two sayings my grandfather always quoted “backwards turn backwards oh time in your flight, make me a child again just for tonight.” And “birdie birdie wait a little longer, till your little wings grow stronger.” Those wise words so often fell upon deaf ears. And now, mid 30s with my own babies growing up way to fast, I sometimes daydream about the lost years of innocence and wonder. Thank you for such an inspirational post ❤️

    1. I love this comment so much! Your grandfather must have been a very wise man. We’re all in a rush to grow up, but those childhood years are some of the most precious of our lives. Hold your own babies tight!

  5. Ah I love this! Freely exploring creativity is SO important. We build up so many creativity “rules” over time and it’s important to break them!

    1. Thank you so much, Emily! You are so right. Creativity is best when it’s unrestricted by fear and rules. I think rediscovering imagination is one of the most wonderful parts of connecting with your inner child!

  6. I don’t think I ever fully disconnected with my inner child, but I love the idea of reconnecting with it. I actually love rereading books and watching shows I loved when I was younger, it gives me that nostalgic feeling and reminds me of those carefree days.

    1. I feel the same way! My inner child has never been too far from reach, but these tips helped me find her even more. I love rereading and rewatching my old favourites as well! There’s something so comforting about revisiting those old familiar worlds.

  7. What a lovely post, Julianne! This is a topic we often neglect, but it’s so important to reconsider back into our lives x love all the effort you put into the pins too!

    1. Aww, thank you Karen! It was fun getting to use my own childhood pictures in my pins – my mom was joking that I should give her photo credit!

  8. Love this! Everyday is always rush and do this, don’t forget to do that, go here, pick up this,drop off that… It would be nice to just reconnect with your inner child and not worry about the day to day stuff.

    1. So true, Gina! We often get lost in the rat race and forget to appreciate life through the eyes of a child.

  9. This is so true, while I didn’t necessarily have the best childhood I do agree that we do have to learn to let go of our inhibitions and have fun. Otherwise we will get stressed. Great post.

    1. Thank you for your comment, Ana! You’re so right. Sometimes your inner child has some healing to do before you can find that joy again. I really recommend checking out the Kati Morton video I shared, she goes more in-depth about how you can work through some of those childhood issues to really embrace your inner child again. Good luck with everything and take care!

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