The Ultimate Nonconformists
Nonconformity goes beyond doing something simply because “no one else is doing it” or not doing something simply because “everyone is doing it”.
Nonconformity is not adhering to standard behaviour or doing things the way they “should” be done, not because you have a point to prove but rather because it’s not who you are.
Children are the ultimate non-conformists. Just watch a young child and in about a minute flat you’ll see non-conformity shining through.
Some examples from my own kids
In play: Take Lego or mega blocks for example, instead of making a nice neat stack or something that resembles a house or a building the blocks are in all sorts of random configurations. There is no order to these blocks, colors don’t match and they are all over the place, blocks even wind up on poor old Lego man’s head. But the kids are having a blast!
Watch any kid at a playground and you’ll likely see them walking up the slide, putting the rocks or sand on the swings and hanging upside down from something they “shouldn’t” be.
Manners: It’s perfectly acceptable to fart and burp at the table, be it before, during or after the meal. There’s no embarrassment or “Oops I shouldn’t have done that”, it’s quite the opposite in fact. My kids sit there with big grins on their faces and are beaming with pride.
In social settings: My son is so friendly. He feels compelled to say hi and bye to everyone who has even thought about looking his way. Thing is it usually doesn’t stop at one greeting there are several…for the same person. If we are in the car or in the house where people outside can not hear him he shouts “hi” and “bye” while waving frantically in hopes that they’ll see him and wave back; and if they do…that totally makes his day.
There are so many ways children don’t conform to societal norms. It’s a little unfortunate that we as parents try and tame this free spirit in our little ones so that they may fit in. With respect to taming my boys’ free-spirits, I will pick my battles and refer back to my favorite question: Does it really matter?
Does it matter that my son says hi and bye a billion times to the same person? No. So I let it be. But I do draw the line at farting and burping at the table…that’s just wrong. ;)
There is something to be said about living a freer life and not always following the rules. It’s liberating and exposes you to a whole new set of experiences and opportunities that you may otherwise not have known.
See also:
How To Live The Life You Want: Follow Your Dreams
Don’t Wait Their Little Lives Away
Shoe Organizer: 10 Unconventional Uses
Being A Rebel: Is It Killing Your Happiness?
Photo courtesy of: Juan23
15 Responses to “The Ultimate Nonconformists”
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I love to watch my kids being a free spirit… we as adults, are very concerned of ourselves not being conservitive. Thanks for the reminder to be yourself!
Chele´s last blog ..Friday’s Blessings
I have to give credit to my kids for helping me free my spirit. To watch them interact without a care in the world is so freeing. One of my sons has gone so far as to offer to teach me how to be a child again.
All of my children are non-conformists and they like being that way.
Jill´s last blog ..Back to school
The secret to happiness is to connect to the playful curiosity and joy of living, no matter what the external circumstances. We can learn a lot from children!
Thanks for a great article.
k
Kaushik´s last blog ..A Gentle Honesty
@Chele – I know! Being conservative and not wanting to stand out too much leads nowhere fun really.
@Jill – I love that your son has offered to teach you that’s great! Truth be told when it comes to living without a care in the world children really are the experts
@Kaushik – Exactly! Playful curiosity and joy of living. If you can live with these two things in your heart and believe it you’ll certainly be a lot happier for it. Thanks for your comment!
Hi Sherri
I didn’t realise it was bad to fart and burp at the table
.
Steven Aitchison´s last blog ..5 Ways To Achieve Personal Excellence
@ steven – LOL Well you’re welcome then
Yes, I would say they are generally frowned upon at the table 
This is great, Sherri! I love that your kids are such free spirits, but I love it even more that you encourage them to be that way!
Jay Schryer´s last blog ..Happy Birthday, Baby
Sherri don’t ever beat (not literally of course) the life out of your children. School and the rest of society will do it for you. It doesn’t matter and of course a well rounded person is one who doesn’t do anything exceptionally. Let them be kids when they are kids. There will be plenty of time for them to conform when they have to later. I’ve never conformed much so I guess I’m a little biased.
I’ll never forget my daughter’s kindergarten teacher complaining to me about how my daughter wouldn’t color inside the lines. I was thrilled!
Stephen – Rat Race Trap´s last blog ..Paying the Price to Get Out
Sherri, I am so glad to read this post…..i thought my daughter was the only one who loved to say hi and bye to everyone who comes her way. Sometimes i think she will just befriend the whole world like this…and then..whats wrong with that??
And she is only two and a half! The other very cute thing she does is shake hands with everyone. she just has to…if i ever tell her not to she will throw a tantrum..its like a compulsion for her. All little tots are nonconformist that way isn’t it! Amazing! We so called smarter and wiser hooligans could learn from them:)
Zeenat {Positive Provocations}´s last blog ..Inspirational Quote Of the Week
Very insightful post, Sherri, thanks for sharing that. Who doesn’t want to be a kid again? I love how they love life unconditionally – without pretenses and without reservations.
Children set a wonderful example in so many ways, don’t they? It’s good to “never mind” a few of the unnecessary rules in life…a freeing thing.
Karen
Karen Chaffee´s last blog ..Beauty Beyond The Storm
@Jay – Thanks Jay I’m glad you liked it! Like Stephen says they’ll have plenty of time to conform later so for now let them be kids
@Stephen – That’s great! I love your advice and I would be thrilled too if our boys decided they didn’t want to color inside the lines…who says?
@zeenat – Your daughter sounds like a very friendly little soul I think her and my son would hit it off really well
We can learn so much from our kids!
@Beth – Welcome! I think having kids is the closest I’ll get to actually becoming a kid again. My boys have been awesome for teaching me to look at things I take for granted sometimes in a completely new way, with such awe and wonderment. Thank you for your comment
@Karen – You’re right if it doesn’t *really* matter and they won’t harm themselves or others then let it be. Very freeing!
Great post Sherri.
I love how kids always follow their hearts. They are so authentic in whatever they do, never worrying about what other people think of them; it’s not even on their radar. Freedom in action is so wonderful to witness.
@ Ann-Marie – I’m glad you liked it. Authenticity runs deep in kids that’s for sure. There are no games or trying to figure people out. They wear their hearts (and emotions) on their sleeves and do what feels good in the moment. It’s lovely to watch!