Laughing with Your Grandchildren

Sharing Time Together

Source: AARP.org | December 1, 2004

Did you know that most adults laugh about 15 or 16 times a day? But get this. Toddlers laugh a whopping 400 times a day! That's a big difference. It makes you wonder what happens to our sense of playfulness as we grow older. Why do adults laugh so much less than children do? And how can we help our grandchildren hold on to their laughter for as long as possible?

Laughter is a habit that all children should learn. And grandparents are among the best people to teach them. Researchers say that laughter makes us healthier. It helps us fight stress, and puts our problems into perspective. It also helps to create special bonds between grandparents and grandchildren. There's no generation gap when you're laughing your head off with a six-year-old!

There are hundreds of ways to get someone else to smile, giggle, and even let out a huge belly laugh. You'll have more luck tickling your grandchild's funny bone if you understand what amuses him or her. Here are a few clues:

Making very young children laugh comes naturally to most grandparents. At this age, children respond best to physical comedy and gestures, facial expressions and silly sounds. Bouncing on grandma's knee or flying in grandpa's arms will get tots laughing every time. Soon, these young children will be ready for simple and funny games. Playing peek-a-boo and patty-cake will give both of you a case of the giggles.

As children get older, it takes a little more work to get them laughing. That's because a toddler or preschooler can have an offbeat sense of humor. Grandparents may have to get a little silly themselves in order to join in the fun. Does a duck in a cup or a cat in a tutu make you smile? Your grandchildren think these images are hilarious. When these children start using words, they can get even sillier.

For example, your grandson will think he's said the funniest thing in the world when he asks for a glass of dinosaur juice. Never heard of this kind of juice? So what? Ask if you can have a glass too! Show your grandson that you have a sense of humor. That's the best way to make sure he keeps laughing.

Grandchildren who are between the ages of five and seven don't understand jokes and riddles. But that doesn't keep them from trying their hands at comedy. Their jokes often don't make any sense at all. But don't worry about that. You'll have more fun if you play along and pretend that you "get it."

"Why did the chicken cross the street?" your granddaughter may ask. Don't answer too quickly. She'll want to give you her own answer. "To get away from the dog," she'll tell you before dissolving into laughter.

Don't think that's funny? Don't tell! Instead, give your granddaughter a big smile and then remark, "That's a good one. You really fooled me." Your appreciation of the joke will encourage your granddaughter to tell more jokes as she gets older.

Humor and laughter are wonderful tools that can create good feelings. But like all tools, humor and laughter need to be used in the right way. When they are misused, someone usually gets hurt. Remember, laughing "with" someone is funny. Laughing "at" someone is not. You can teach children that difference when you use humor in the right way. They'll follow your lead.

Laughing isn't hard work, but it is a skill that we have to practice. And practicing can be so much fun! Exercise your funny bone by laughing often. Always be on the lookout for things that will make you laugh. And always be willing to "turn that frown upside down," even at a moment's notice! Here are more tips:

• Keep a supply of funny books in the house.
• Read the comics each day. Trade jokes with friends. Watch funny movies.
• Learn to laugh at small mishaps. Do your grandchildren sometimes spill their milk or accidentally break a plate? Laugh it off. You'll be teaching them how to use laughter to cope with the bad things that happen to all of us.
• Tell funny family stories to your grandchildren.
• Don't be afraid to make a silly face, wear a silly hat, or sing a silly song.
• Laugh at yourself once in a while. It's healthy for you and it gives your grandchildren a good example.
• Never tell a grandchild to stop being silly. When you've had enough of a grandchild's attempts at humor, try to get the child interested in something else.

It's hard to say anything bad about humor and laughter. It's free. It's easy. And it makes us healthier and happier. Best of all, it brings grandparents and grandchildren closer together. Laughter is the tie that binds. And that's no joke.

AARP Joke Board. AARP members trade jokes with one another.
Humor and Hobbies. Check out cartoons and jokes on AARP's Web site.
The Serious Business of Laughter.  Listen to this AARP Radio program about how laughter clubs are helping people cope with stress.

How to Nurture Your Child's Sense of Humor.  An expert gives advice on helping children be funny.
Sesame Workshop - Humor.  Three doctors give their ideas on how children of different ages relate to humor.
Parent Connection: Learning to Laugh.  Follow these tips for keeping your family laughing.

Find these books online at Borders.com.

"Knock, Knock! Who's There?" Tad Hill, Simon & Schuster Children's, June 2000.
"A Giraffe and a Half," Shel Silverstein, HarperCollins Publishers, April 1975.
"What Do You Hear When Cows Sing? And Other Silly Riddles," Marco and Giulio Maestro, HarperCollins Children's Books, January 1997.