Asklemmy

I make a distinction between childish and child-like or simply the things from childhood. This isn't pedantry, it just serves to illustrate a way of thinking for me that's tangential to the question.

But, a lot actually. It is very unusual for me to not enjoy the things I enjoyed as a kid, and it is almost as uncommon that I reject new things that are for kids just because I'm an adult.

But yeah, I still play with Legos (as opposed to building kits). I finger paint (though I call it working primitive to the art snobs lol). I still watch some cartoons, and I still enjoy the ones I don't watch when they happen to be on.

Joy is a thing that should be cherished while it exists. It, like all things, is ephemeral, so if something that brings it is deemed for kids, I refuse to reject it solely because of age.

It's kinda sad at times though. My niece and my kid used to finger paint with me. Now they're too old for it in their heads, and I miss having that fun with them. The kind of silly play we used to do has been replaced with more structured activity, though there's still play and joy in it (even the knife fighting and general unarmed combat I'm teaching my kid and some others lol).

Retaining that sense of joy, cherishing it when it comes and being able to let it go when it moves on is essential to life.