Why Humor is Good for Kids




Always laugh when you can, it is cheap medicine – Lord Byron
How does a child develop a sense of humor? Is it inherent or is it learnt through observation or is it a combination of both? We will deal with this aspect later. But what is known and scientifically proven beyond doubt is that humor and laughter play a crucial role in the development of resilience and well being, and can help children navigate through and cope with the different stages of life.
Nature vs. Nurture
It is widely believed that no one is born with an inherent sense of humor, a lack of sense of humor or even a poor sense of humor. A sense of humor is learned, just like all other skills we possess. But how is this particular skill learnt? Well, it is mostly by observation. And parents are the greatest influencers.
When a child’s humor development is encouraged, meaning praised and appreciated by words, it will flourish. But this does not mean that parents have to feel unduly pressurized. Children, though not born with a sense of humor, can appreciate funny instances (mostly physical in nature). So even if you consider yourself to be a somber parent, there is no need to stress.
The only way to help your budding comedian is to laugh along with him in things that he feels are funny, without letting him go overboard. It is also up to the parents to steer their children in the right direction if humor starts getting cruel or unpalatable.
The benefits of laughing
Franzini says a keen sense of humor is linked to:
Here’s an age-appropriate humor guide during the comedic formative years of six months to seven years.
Children use humor to dispel stressful situations quite naturally. Maybe you could take a leaf out of their book and adopt the same strategy next time you feel stressed. Happy Laughing!