How to Live Life As a Kid

Co-authored by Hannah Madden

Last Updated: August 25, 2021 References

No matter what adults say, being a kid can be tough. You only have a few years of experience, and yet you need to navigate in a huge world full of incredible and scary things. This article will offer you some guidance so that you have a better shot at having a full, happy, healthy, and successful childhood!

Method 1

Method 1 of 11:
Make good friends.

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Talk to new people and see if you have anything in common. It’s fine to stay friends with kids you’ve known forever, but really try to branch out and make a few friends of all different kinds. You guys can hang out at each other’s houses, play outside together, or hang out during school.^{[1]
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- It can be tough to make new friends, especially if you don’t know anyone yet. When in doubt, walk up to another kid who’s standing alone and introduce yourself. Say something like, “Hi, my name’s Jake. What’s yours?”
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Method 2

Method 2 of 11:
Accept other people.

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Try not to judge anyone for things they can’t control. If you see someone who’s different than you, it doesn’t mean anything bad. People come in all shapes and sizes, and that should be celebrated!^{[2]
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- As you grow up, you might see other kids bullying people for the way they look, act, or dress. Bullying is never okay, and you should tell a trusted adult about it right away. Say something like, “Yesterday, I saw a few people making fun of Nancy at recess. I didn’t know what to do except tell you, Mrs. Mabel.”

Method 3

Method 3 of 11:
Be kind to others.

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Try your hardest to be nice to other kids. When you’re nice to people, they’re usually nice back. A simple “hey, good morning” can really make someone’s day better. Even if you don’t know the person, you should still try to be nice to them.^{[3]
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- For instance, maybe there’s a kid in your school who always eats lunch alone. You could invite them to eat lunch at your table and see if you two can become friends.
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Method 4

Method 4 of 11:
Be yourself.

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Don’t change yourself to fit in with anyone else. It can be tempting to try to make new friends by pretending you have the same interests; however, it won’t be very fun in the long run. Try to stay true to who you are, even if it seems hard.^{[4]
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- Kids are sometimes tempted to fit in with the popular people by pretending to be what they’re not. If you squash all of your real interests just to hang out with certain people, you won’t have any real fun together.

Method 5

Method 5 of 11:
Do stuff that you like to do.

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What’s your favorite thing to do on the weekends? Try to do it as often as you can! When you’re a kid, you have a lot more time to do fun stuff, and a lot less responsibilities to take care of. As long as it’s something harmless and fun, go for it!^{[5]
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- Maybe you like collecting action figures, playing video games, going exploring outside, or drawing.
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Method 6

Method 6 of 11:
Try new things.

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Branch out your interests at least a little bit. It can be scary to try new things, but you might find something you really like! From foods to activities to friendships, keep an open mind about stuff so you don’t get too boxed in.^{[6]
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- If your mom makes something new for dinner, give it a taste before you say if you like it or not.
- If your friend wants to play a new video game, try it out for a few minutes to see if it’s fun or not.

Method 7

Method 7 of 11:
Have a lot of fun.

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You’re a kid, so focus on being happy! If you ever feel stressed or bummed out, talk to your parents or a trusted adult about it. You’re only young once, so try to make the most of your time by living life the way you want to live.^{[7]
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- If you aren’t sure what you like to do for fun, try something new like paintball, rock climbing, hiking, doing puzzles, playing with action figures, painting, or climbing trees.
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Method 8

Method 8 of 11:
Try hard in school.

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It might not be super fun, but it’s important. Even when you’re a kid, you should try really hard in all of your classes. If you’re struggling with a subject or an assignment, ask your parents or your teacher to help you out.^{[8]
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- If you’re really stuck on a subject, you could even ask your parents to hire you a tutor.

Method 9

Method 9 of 11:
Look on the bright side of things.

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Keep a positive attitude about your life. Even if something bad happens to you, there might be a good thing tucked away in there that you can’t quite see yet. If you catch yourself getting down, try to think of at least one good thing that’s going to happen.^{[9]
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- For example, maybe your friend is moving to another state and you won’t get to see them as often. The good news is that they live near a beach now, so you can go visit them in the summer and hang out in the ocean!
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Method 10

Method 10 of 11:
Be proud of yourself.

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Everyone has stuff that they’re good at. If you’re ever feeling a little down about yourself, try making a list of what you can do well. Try taking a peek at that list any time you’re feeling bummed out.^{[10]
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- Maybe you’re good at writing, or video games, or picking out outfits, or being kind to others.
- If you’re feeling stuck, try asking your friends or parents what you’re good at. Sometimes, other people recognize stuff we’re good at before we do.

Method 11

Method 11 of 11:
Listen to your parents.

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Most of the time, they know best. It might not seem like it right now, but the adults in your life usually have your best interests at heart. Try to always listen to what your parents have to say, even if you don’t quite understand it now.^{[11]
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- If you don’t understand a rule, try asking your parents to explain it. You can be calm and respectful by saying, “I don’t quite get why I have to do that. Can you tell me?”
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Community Q&A

Question

Why do children like playing pranks and telling jokes?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

It's fun to be a kid, and pranks and jokes are all part of having fun. However, pranks and jokes should never be at the expense of someone else. If a kid ever takes a prank or a joke too far, you can tell a trusted adult about it.
Question

I am homeschooled, and I really want to make friends but every time I am in a social setting I freeze and don't talk to anyone. How can I make friends?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

It can be tough to talk to new people. When you're at home, try thinking of stuff you could say to break the ice, like, "Who's your favorite video game character?" or, "Have you guys been to the new skate park?" After you introduce yourself, you can ask one of your pre-planned questions to get a fun conversation going.
Question

I'm really shy. I have one friend. I get embarrassed very easily. I'm in third grade. How can I ignore embarrassment?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

It's tough to ignore embarrassment, even as an adult. If you feel yourself getting embarrassed, try to remember that everyone else's opinion doesn't matter. What matters is that you like yourself and that you're having fun with your life. If you can repeat that to yourself enough, you'll slowly but surely feel less embarrassed over time.
Question

I am 11 years old I really want hair extensions I feel ugly with short hair I'm scared of everything I'm shy and I can't do math what should I do and I really wanna be a dancer but can't take classes cause I feel it makes me pathetic and I'm not good at anything

JJSTYLE

Community Answer

This sounds a lot like how I was at 11, and a few years later I was diagnosed with depression. You should probably tell an adult (like your parents) about how you feel bad about yourself and they can get you help.
Question

I'm 10 years old and I find life tough with everything in the way. I don't have any friends. Is there any way that I can study hard and not focus so much on video games? I try, but I can't resist them.

Community Answer

Set a time limit on how long you can play video games in a day. Don't do your studying in the same room as your video games. Don't start playing video games after school until you've finished your homework and/or feel confident for any tests you have coming up. Remember why you want to do well in school when it seems hard to stay focused. Try to step out of your comfort zone at school and talk to some new people. Just say hi and see where it goes. You never know who could be a good friend.
Question

I'm eleven years old. I want to start a diary, but I'm scared that people will make fun of me and will stop being my friend. What can I do?

Community Answer

If it's that bad, try to keep it hidden. If you have siblings, try to hide it really well. Oh, and anyone who would stop being your friend just because you keep a diary isn't worth having as a friend!
Question

I'm 10-years-old and I get embarrassed really easily. I feel like I'm really dumb and ugly and I can't even speak up in class because I'm afraid I'm going to say something stupid, what do I do?

Zelda Strider

Community Answer

Don't worry you're not alone. When I was younger I was the same way. In class when you have to speak up, just go over what you're going to say in your mind so when you finally speak you'll know what to say. It'll be hard at first but over time it'll be easier. I felt like I was dumb and ugly but I managed to kind of get over it by thinking about what I liked about myself. Whenever I felt like my body looked bad I would think about how good my hair was. Just remember that you aren't the only person feeling like that and there are plenty of people who are willing to help you.
Question

How do I deal with stress, no friends, annoying siblings, wanting private space, and school? I'm 10 years old.

Community Answer

Try to think positive thoughts and remember that it gets better. I went through similar things when I was 11, and only a year and a half later I am very happy. What worked for me was meditation and finding friends who complemented me. It helps to talk to someone too, maybe let your parents know how you're feeling or talk to a guidance counselor at school.