15 Really Good Reasons You Should Laugh With Your Child Today

Have you laughed with your child today? We have all heard that laughter is the best medicine. However, do you know what else it can do for your kids and your relationship with them? In case you need a little encouragement to loosen up or an excuse for the sillies you already pull, here are 15 really good reasons you should laugh with your child today.

1. Laughter reduces stress.

   • Studies show that laughter positively affects stress hormones, relieves physical tension, and relaxes muscles for up to 45 minutes. In a world that seems to be growing more stressful, regular laughter is an effective stress-reliever for our children.

2. Laughter strengthens circulatory and respiratory systems.

   • Laughter stimulates the same muscles and body functions as breathing but at a different rate. During laughter, there are increases in heart rate, respiratory rate, respiratory depth, and oxygen consumption, followed by relaxation.

3. Laughter increases immunity.

   • A hearty laugh increases the function of natural killer cells, which are an important part of your child’s physical response to and fight against disease.

4. Laughter improves healing.

   • Although exact scientific mechanisms are often unknown, plenty of experiential evidence supports the physically and emotionally healing aspects of laughter. In fact, up to 50% of cancer patients use humor as part of their therapy. When your little one falls ill, laughter can boost the healing process and make the sickness more emotionally manageable.

5. Laughter decreases anxiety.

   • In the short term, laughing decreases many of the physical effects of anxiety. Regular humor also helps those prone to anxiety find a balanced perspective of life. Help your child through anxious situations with laughter.

6. Laughter provides a natural, uplifting, and fulfilling high.

   • Social laughter triggers the release of natural opioids in humans. These are some of the chemicals responsible for pain relief and euphoria. Simply put, laughter can help your children feel happy. (Sometimes it’s nice to see why science agrees with what we already know! 😉 )

7. Laughter improves memory.

   • One study shows that laughter increases short-term memory.

8. Laughter fosters brain connectivity.

   • When we hear different kinds of laughs (joyful, taunting, tickling, etc.), our brains immediately get to work deciphering what those sounds mean. Different laughs stimulate different regions of the brain. Laughing with our children can help their brains develop and better decipher social clues.

9. Laughter increases your child’s learning.

   • We want our children to be life-long learners. Research suggests and experience shows that including appropriate and relevant humor in your teaching makes learning more enjoyable and the material more memorable. You can decrease school anxiety and increase your child’s learning. Interject humor into your life-lessons and homework help.

10. Laughter strengthens your parent-child bonds.

    • The physical effects of laughter seem to be beneficial side-effects. However, the social and emotional effects of laughter seem to be its purpose. Laughter is an ancient and wide-spread mammal characteristic observed most frequently in social context. Individuals are 30 times more likely to laugh with others than by themselves. Laughter is contagious (even more so for kids) and strengthens emotional bonds between you and your children.

11. Laughter indicates the well-being of your relationship.

    • One study of couples showed that couples who laughed more together or simultaneously during conversation enjoyed higher quality relationships with more closeness and support. Learn to laugh with your kids, as opposed to putting them in front of a funny TV show.

12. Laughter increases your child’s ability to handle challenging situations.

    • Laughter can turn a painful, embarrassing, or stressful situation into a comedic one. Life is going to throw all kinds of uncomfortable experiences at our children. Teaching them it’s good to be able to laugh at ourselves is an effective coping mechanism and helps us all retain a healthy perspective.

13. Laughter bolsters bonds in difficult situations.

    • Couples who face stressful situations with laughter and other positive emotions feel better together.  During hardship, laughter says, “We can laugh together. We’re going to get through this” (Sophie Scott). Laughter can help you bond with your child even through difficult stages and experiences.

14. Laughter expresses empathy.

    • Mirror neurons are brain cells involved in empathic behavior. These mirror neurons are also often related to laughter. When we laugh alongside our children, we express empathy. We validate their emotions. We also encourage them to develop empathy.

15. Real laughter sends a powerful emotional message to your child: I am comfortable with you. I like being around you. I love you.

    • Laughter is more often a reaction to a person rather than the words of a joke. We laugh because we share a common situational understanding or because we accept the other person. We laugh because we feel relaxed around the other person. Increase the laughter in your home, and you have found one more way to express your love.

Whether you bring out the old school knock-knock jokes, read a silly book together, or chuckle at yourself, find a reason to laugh with your child today. In doing so, you offer physical benefits. More importantly, you utilize the original intent of laughter: to strengthen societal bonds.

Laugh with your children often and show them, “I want to be around you.” In return, they just might want to be around you too.

Share this with someone who makes YOU laugh with a thank you for all the good they are doing!

What makes your children laugh? Share in the comments.