---
title: "Explain it to me like I’m 5"
description: "“Explain it to me like I’m 5 years old”. Bravo! What an enlightened proposition 👏."
author: "Ghaith Ayadi"
site: "Verbatim"
collection: "Hokum"
url: "https://verbatim.ayadighaith.com/hokum/explain-it-to-me-like-im-5"
date: 2022-08-23
updated: 2026-09-16
---
# Explain it to me like I’m 5

“Explain it to me like I’m 5 years old”. Bravo! What an enlightened proposition  👏. 

The premise is that if we understand something well enough, we’re ought to articulate it in simple terms so that a 5 year old would understand it. Well, guess what, 5 year olds don’t understand much. The explanation of quantum mechanics that can be understood by a 5 year old has very little to do with quantum mechanics and more to do with fruits and vegetables.

Not every idea can generate interest in an elevator pitch. Not every business can have a high conversion landing page. They can all get incrementally better, which is why we must all go with this “explain it to me like I’m dumb” charade. 

Simplifying communication makes communication simpler, but it doesn’t make the underlying topic simpler. 

Interesting things don’t need to be simple. Simple things don’t need to be interesting. But your things isn’t either, which is why you’re explaining it to me like I’m 5. 

The challenge is that most stuff isn’t interesting. The solution isn’t to simplify it because complexity is sometimes inherent to the problem. My solution is to give it up and make something simple instead. Only then do you get to talk to people like the adults they are. You get to have sophisticated conversations with sophisticated people.