How to Act Like a Kid Again (Girls)
As you get older, you might realize that there are times when you just want to act like a kid again. Pull out your favorite childhood toy, like a doll or stuffed animal, and enjoy some imaginative playtime. You can also do things you liked when you were younger, like baking cookies for an outdoor picnic, having a sleepover with friends, or pretending to have superpowers. If you have friends who also miss the easy days of being a kid, spend time acting like goofballs together! Make silly faces, tell bad jokes, or pretend you're on a mission to another planet. When you're little, you also spend more time with your family, so ask for a family game night or watch a movie together.
Play with your favorite childhood toys. Maybe you have a doll or a stuffed animal that used to make you super happy. Take some time alone with those toys and let your imagination run wild. Don't be self-conscious about talking to your toys if that's what you want to do. It's your playtime -- do what you want with it! If your parents packed your old toys away in the attic, ask them to help you find the box. If the weather's nice, bring your toys outside. Hang out with girls your age. You might be surprised to find out that your friends also want to act like kids again. Get together and do things that you used to do when you were younger. For example, you could play pretend and imagine that you're in a different world or have super powers. You could also ask your parents to help you bake cookies or brownies and have an outdoor picnic once they're made. Invite lots of girls over for a sleepover! You can spend the night playing and acting like kids together. Look for ways to laugh like a kid. One of the most fun things about being young is acting silly whenever you want to. Get together with your friends and play around like goofballs by making faces at each other or sharing funny jokes. The more time you spend laughing together, the more inside jokes you'll have to giggle about at school. You can even tell lame jokes that older kids might not think are funny anymore. For example, ask your friends: “Why did Mickey Mouse go to outer space?” Then shout: “To find Pluto!” Spend time playing and relaxing with your family. When you're little, you spend lots of time at home with your parents and siblings. You might find yourself missing this quality time as you get older. Ask your family to have a game night or watch a movie together. Cuddle with them on the couch and tell them that you love them. Find sports or other activities that you love. When you're a kid, you can try out lots of different activities! Ask your parents to sign you up for things you're interested in, like soccer, ballet, or tuba lessons. Don't focus on winning or being the best. Instead, just have fun and see what you like and don't like. Ask your friends if they want to join a team or take lessons with you. This will make these activities even more fun. Skip the heavy makeup. Kids don't really wear makeup unless they're playing dress up, so put away your makeup brushes. Use the 5 or 10 minutes you would have spent putting on makeup to have a little extra playtime before you have to go to school. If you put on makeup to hide pimples because it makes you better about yourself, that's ok! Try to remember, though, that almost all girls going through puberty have pimples. No one's going to judge you if you skip the concealer. Pick clothes that make you happy and comfortable. There's not a uniform you need to wear to be a kid. However, when you pick out clothes, think about whether the outfit is something you'd expect a younger or an older girl to wear. If you put on clothing and it makes you feel 5 years older, it probably isn't making you look like a kid. Ultimately, though, it's about what makes you feel good! If you're struggling to pick out clothes, ask your parents for help. Tell them that you want to wear clothing that's meant for kids. Accessorize with jewelry, belts, and hair stuff meant for kids, as well. Avoid spending lots of time in front of a mirror. Kids don't care too much about how they look, and they don't spend more time than they have to getting dressed and ready for the day. If you've got a mirror in your school locker, consider throwing it out. You can also stick a Post-It note on your mirror at home that says something like “look away and go be a kid!”  but don’t obsess about your body. Eat well and exercise, Be healthy without stressing too much about it. Your parents will help you learn which foods are best for you. Generally, go for lots of fruits and veggies. And even though kids love sugar, don't eat too much of it! You should also do kid stuff like climbing trees, jumping rope, or playing hopscotch, tag, and hide-and-go-seek. Talk to your parents about having sugar as an occasional treat. Maybe you can have a small dessert every other night after dinner. Limit your TV and computer time. Even though there's lots of cool stuff to watch and do in front of these screens, children can make their own fun without them. Don't spend more than 1-2 hours per day watching TV or doing stuff on your computer. If you have a TV in your room, ask your parents if you can move it somewhere else. Wait to set up social media accounts. Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook aren't really meant for children. Having these accounts might make you feel self-conscious about being or acting young. They can also lead to lots of grown-up drama between you and other people at school. To prevent all that, wait until you feel like you're ready to take the social media plunge. Try holding off until you're at least 13. You're actually not supposed to open these accounts without parental permission when you're younger than that, so why not stick to the rules? Consider giving up your cell phone if you’ve got one. Sometimes, even little kids have cell phones! If your parents gave you one to keep you safe, that's ok. But talk to your parents about ways to keep social media and other apps off your phone. This will help you avoid getting sucked into drama at school or games that aren't as fun as the ones you can make up on your own. Your parents can download apps that filter various websites and apps, so you only have what you need to just be a kid on your phone! Watch movies and TV shows that are meant for you. Stick to the kids' channels and movies that are rated G and PG. Movies and shows that are meant for adults might cause you to see and hear things that will make you feel older. Besides, children's movies and shows are fun! Get a group of your friends together and ask your parents to take you to see the newest kids' movie. You could also watch new episodes of your favorite kids' show together. Focus on being you, not mimicking celebrities. The coolest part about being a kid is not caring as much what other people think about you. This carefree attitude makes it easier to act like yourself without trying to be someone else. As you get older, it's sometimes tempting to want to be just like your favorite stars. But remember what it felt like to be a kid -- you're awesome just as you are! Even when you decide to stop acting like a kid, take this attitude with you. It'll help you build self-confidence and self-esteem. Adopt a carefree attitude about life. Kids don't take life too seriously, which means they're usually having much more fun than older people! Any time you notice yourself worrying too much about drama at school or something else that's bothering you, be like a kid. Let it go! To really act like a kid, you can even sing the song “Let it Go” from the Disney movie Frozen to remind yourself not to dwell on things. 
Play with your favorite childhood toys. Hang out with girls your age. Look for ways to laugh like a kid. Spend time playing and relaxing with your family. Find sports or other activities that you love. Skip the heavy makeup. Pick clothes that make you happy and comfortable. Avoid spending lots of time in front of a mirror.  but don’t obsess about your body. Limit your TV and computer time. Wait to set up social media accounts. Consider giving up your cell phone if you’ve got one. Watch movies and TV shows that are meant for you. Focus on being you, not mimicking celebrities. Adopt a carefree attitude about life. 