Possibilities

Cookie: “Dandy, do boys wear hairclips?”
Dandy: “No, but you can wear one if you like.”
Cookie: “Which one is a boy one?”
Dandy: “I like the one on the left.”
Cookie: “I would like the one with the BALL on it!”
Now, every time Dandy looked at the hairclip on the left, Dandy couldn’t help but think, “I picked a bat and Cookie picked a ball.”

Kids see the world through limitless possibilities. They don’t worry about what something is “supposed” to be—they just see what it could be.

It’s this kind of thinking that sparked a fascinating study by NASA. They wanted to figure out how to hire innovative thinkers for their toughest projects, and their research led them somewhere unexpected—straight to 5-year-olds. The study found that at age 4-5, a whopping 98% of kids showed genius-level creative thinking. But by age 30? That number dropped to just 2%.

What happened?

The way we learn and grow in structured environments gradually trains us to favor logic and rules over imagination and exploration. Schools, workplaces, and life itself nudge us into thinking in straight lines instead of wild, looping scribbles of creativity.

But here’s the good news: we can get some of that magic back. NASA’s big takeaway? Adults need to intentionally think like a 5-year-old every now and then.

We often get stuck in our daily routines—pay the bills, clean the house, get dinner on the table. Meanwhile, our kids are out here turning cardboard boxes into rocket ships and blankets into capes. They remind us that imagination isn’t just for play; it’s a tool for seeing the world differently and finding creative solutions.

So how do we tap into that childlike creativity, and better yet, how do we make sure our kids never lose theirs?

Take an imagination break. Set aside a few minutes each day to dream up something new. It could be inventing a silly game with your child or just daydreaming about a magical world on your own. Let go of practicality for a moment and just have fun.

Reframe the ordinary. Try looking at everyday objects through a child’s eyes. Could that laundry pile be a secret fort? Is your daily commute actually a daring adventure? Playing with perspective can open up new ideas.

Pause for creativity. The next time you’re feeling stuck, take a deep breath and give your mind permission to wander. Let yourself imagine something totally wild—you might just spark a brilliant idea.

The world may tell us to grow up, but a little bit of that 5-year-old magic is exactly what we need to thrive.