The stage in life you should hold onto for as long as humanly possible. While growing up does have its advantages, childhood will always be the most care-free time for 90% of people. (The other 10% will have suffered/suffer traumatizing, awful, terribly shitty childhoods and be nothing but glad to be done with the whole mess.)

Regardless, childhood should be a happy time, and usually is.. it's also a funny, and odd time, when things like someone stealing your crayon are a major ordeal.