Humor is one of a number of things — like art or dramatic play — that children can create. Humor, in turn, fosters a relaxed and playful climate in which further creativity is more likely to occur. Humor, creativity, playfulness, and play are closely connected, so a home or classroom that’s conducive to any of them is likely to have an abundance of all of them and be filled with the laughter of happy children.

 

Even in the most supportive families and classrooms, there are constant pressures for children to conform to the expectations of others. But in pretend play, and when they are fooling around, children can buck the system.

 

11 Ways to Encourage Humor

 

• Maintain a warm, supportive atmosphere in your home. A child who feels that not only his humor, but his very self is likely to be ridiculed isn’t likely to have the confidence to risk silliness.

• Be playful with your child. Physical comedy is particularly popular with young children (lap games, odd timing, peculiar body language, gestures, facial expressions). As children begin experimenting with and mastering language, verbal play is always a smash hit. Encourage imagination and pretend play, curiosity, ideas, and originality.

• Build your child’s self-esteem in all aspects of her life — physical and social accomplishments, competence, and knowledge. A constricted, inhibited child with low self-esteem is rarely very good at creating or appreciating humor.

• Help your youngster become aware of the needs, wishes, and pleasures of other children. To amuse peers, a child has to understand their perspective and mood somewhat and be able to move in tune with his audience. When we help a child learn to solve problems with siblings and friends by listening, explaining, negotiating, and acting on the solution they’ve agreed to, we’re working on the foundation essential for a sense of humor, as well as for so much else.

• Use humor yourself in everyday life. Show the way by introducing a bit of nonsense in tense situations between children. In addition to teaching children problem-solving skills, guide them in relating to peers with a twinkle when it feels as if a light touch would reduce the level of anger, aggression, or anxiety in the air.

•  Share stories that tickle her funny bones. Try stories with illustrations, incidents, and entanglements that are incongruous with the way your child knows things really are.

• Allow your child a little leeway with “bathroom humor.” It may be better to overlook the pee-pee and poo-poo jokes and to show a glimmer of humor at our children’s wittiness than to be altogether opposed to their exhibition of high spirits and camaraderie.

• Throw in a pinch of laughter when a child’s compliance is needed but lacking. This can increase the likelihood that the adult’s objective will be met, everyone will come out unscathed, and the child will have more respect for the adult’s ability to be a fun person. For instance: “The bath toys are still in the tub? The tub alarm’s going off! Bleep! Bleep! Oh, put the toys away, stop this horrible racket! Hurry! Oh, thank goodness, you stopped that awful alarm! Tomorrow, try to remember to get the bath toys out before you get out.”

• Let your child feel superior and laugh at you. Turn the tables now and then. Make goofy mistakes to give your child a chuckle. This can add balance to the incontrovertible fact that you are, and you should be, the boss. On the other hand, don’t let the big kids scoff at the little kids. Older children are so relieved to know that they’ve grown that they tend to ridicule younger ones (children who represent what they were very recently).

• Make a joke out of making a mistake. One of the most useful tools in the mental health toolbox, and for achieving social success, is the ability to laugh good-naturedly at oneself. It’s hard not to like a cheerful child and one who makes you laugh, so peers are less likely to “mean tease” a child who teases about his own oddities and errors.

• Provide your child with the structure she needs to be able to predict what you expect. Reasonable household policies (call them rules if you prefer) and a schedule (albeit flexible) help children “act right.” Being able to manage one’s behavior is part of being able to use humor judiciously. A child who inflicts her rowdiness on a sibling or friend without sensitivity to his wishes is not a skilled humorist.

 

What’s Not Funny

Children are put off by adult humor because it’s over their heads. It’s too sophisticated, perhaps including puns on words they don’t know, or maybe involving experiences they’ve never had. When grownups make jokes that children don’t understand, children feel stupid. Preschoolers don’t understand sarcasm, and joking with them should never include it.

 

Young children’s humor reflects their recent mastery of physical skills, knowledge of how things normally look and are done, language skills, and emotional issues. As soon as a child feels competent that she can do something or that she completely understands something, she shows off by doing it differently from the way it’s customarily done. Because the pleasure of humor is largely the feeling of mastery, a child won’t make the joke or even get the joke unless she’s been there, done that. For instance, until a child knows what farm and zoo animals look like, pictures in which the wrong heads are on the bodies just won’t strike her as funny.

The ability to appreciate humor enriches a child’s life in all dimensions. By using humor, children feel free to deviate from the rules. Laughter is an expression of freedom from the way things really are, and we can all occasionally use a little escape from the way things really are!

 

 

Prompt conversation and encourage curiosity by asking your child challenging questions, such as:

 

What do you know how to do that you can teach to others?

 

If you could be a sound, what would it be?

 

What is the funniest thing that ever happened to you?

 

What do you think your life will be like in the future?

 

What is the most wonderful thing that ever happened to you?

 

Who is your best friend and why?

 

If you could choose a new name for yourself, what would it be, and why?

 

What’s the coolest thing you saw someone do today?

 

How would you change the world if you could?

Like food and shelter, a child’s need for sleep is basic. The healthiest, happiest kids are the best rested. A child’s ability to learn, imagine, create, and socialize are all linked to getting a sound night’s sleep, as rest gives a growing body and brain a chance to consolidate experiences, archive the day’s memories, and process emotions.

 

As simple as the need for sleep may be, however, it is wrought with complexities. For some small children, going to sleep means giving up control, and sleep discipline — teaching a child to fall asleep and stay asleep through the night — can be emotionally loaded for parents who need to weigh their sense of responsibility with their own need for rest.

 

Luckily, there are concrete steps you can take to help your child become a better sleeper and to make sure everyone in your home gets a good night’s rest. If all the work it takes seems daunting, remember: Helping your child sleep through the night will give him the resources to face his rough-and-tumble days of exploration and learning and help him to flourish.

 

Sleep Is a Family Affair

Just as there’s no single way to raise a child, there’s no “right” way to encourage good sleeping habits. However, because disruptive sleep patterns can upset an entire household, it’s very important to create an environment that is respectful and peaceful for everyone. Each family has to find their own way. Start by setting some ground rules.

 

First, parents need to reach a universal agreement — especially since research has found that, on average, children wake up three to six times per night. Decide how you’ll handle a crying baby or a demanding kindergartner: Will you respond at once to a whimper, wait two minutes and then attend, or wait a full five or 10 minutes, then offer some comfort? If one parent favors co-sleeping and the other doesn’t, it’s best to clear the air long before the wee-hour awakenings require your attention.

 

It’s important not to lose your temper or punish your child for awakening — even when you’ve got to be up for work in two hours. Parental outbursts tend to exacerbate sleep difficulties rather than resolve them.

 

Remember, too, that the sleep strategy that worked when your child was 6 weeks old might not be ideal when she’s 6 months, and will change again by the time she’s 3 or 4. Your child’s development and her abilities to soothe herself and to separate change over time.

 

Two basics will serve you well: First, follow your instincts. Second, remember that you are in control. As a parent, you set the tone for your children, and as always, consistency is key — even in the night.

 

The Trouble With Sleep

Many variables can contribute to children’s sleep difficulties, but most fall into a few common categories, including separation issues, fears, and simple distraction. The good news is that bedtime doesn’t have to turn into a battleground. By understanding what’s at play, you can help your child conquer his issues so that he can become a happy, independent sleeper.

 

Separation. For young children, going to sleep seems like a separation from you and from the safe and predictable “awake” world. Make separations easier with transitional objects, like toys or blankets, or with reassuring props such as nightlights and music boxes. Remind your child of your presence, awake or asleep—he will be encouraged to know that you’re not far away, and that you’re available to help if he needs you.

 

Follow your child’s cues, within reason. Three-year-old Devon, for example, likes to listen to an audio tape every night after storytime and lights-out. Since he is eager to stay awake, he always asks for “one more song.” By setting solid guidelines and clear consequences—”I’ll stay with you for two songs, and then I’m going downstairs to read”—he will learn that his parents are there for him, even when he can’t see them.

 

Sleep separation can be an issue for parents, too, particularly those who are away at work and have a strong desire to spend time with their children in the evening. But protracted nighttime routines, overlong good-byes, and lengthy tucking-in rituals don’t serve a child well in the long run, as they expand the transition you’re trying to ease and delay the separation into sleep. Try shifting evening coziness to other hours of the day — after his bath, for example, or by altering your early morning routine so that it includes a little private time together. At bedtime, make sure to praise your child’s (increasing) ability to settle in and go to sleep. Reinforce your praise in the morning to set the stage for the next night’s sleep.

 

Being awake is more fun. As children grow, life’s attractive distractions pull even red and tired eyes away from bed. Why go to sleep when the fireflies are out? Or when your big brother is up watching a video with Mom and Dad? As pediatrician T. Berry Brazleton observed, no right-thinking child actually wants to go to bed — certainly not to sleep through the night, especially if loving arms await with a warm drink and a lazy cuddle in the rocking chair. Ensure that your child has plenty of opportunity for play and lots of exercise during the day, and make going to bed fun so that he looks forward to the quiet time.

 

Create a peaceful, comfortable space for your child. Whether he shares a room or has his own, his bedroom is his refuge. Keep TV and computer separate from sleeping space as their stimulation runs counter to relaxation. Light-hearted posters and fun pillows can make a kid’s room a real oasis.

 

Underlying issues. On a deeper level, sometimes a child’s reluctance to go to sleep reflects inner issues. A child seeking to master a new situation or confronting a life change may cause him to backtrack in his sleep patterns and need much more reassurance at bedtime. Again, special transitional objects can provide him with the security he craves, as can more doses of attention and affection sprinkled throughout the day. For balance, strive for greater predictability and regularity in your child’s daily life.

 

Monsters in the closet. Preschoolers’ very active imaginations make it difficult for them to separate fantasy from reality. They sincerely believe that monsters lurk under the bed and ghosts are hiding in the closet. These fears deserve your careful attention and empathy. Instead of saying “There’s nothing under your bed,” for example, try, “I see you’re worried. Let’s look under the bed together.” Your child will feel both understood and reassured. Try to help him see the difference between real and pretend creatures and make sure he knows you would never let a monster into the house.

 

Bad dreams. Night fears and bad dreams are a part of preschoolers’ lives. Much of the content of these dreams is evident in your child’s rampant imagination and passion for pretend play and can crop up in direct relation to “a dramatic boom in cognitive development,” says Dr. Jodi Mindell, author of Sleeping Through the Night.

 

Help your child manage his fears by encouraging him to name them. Sometimes just framing a fear with language makes it go away. Or, invite your child to draw pictures of his dreams. Both approaches let kids attempt to control the things that scare them.

 

Surefire Sleep Strategies

Helping a child learn to sleep well and soundly takes creativity, commitment, and patience. Here are some strategies.

• Set a regular bedtime for weeknights and weekends. Keeping your child’s daily schedule consistent, with fairly predictable meal and sleep times, helps regulate his body’s inner clock.

• Design a pre-bedtime ritual that helps your child unwind. This routine should take about 20 minutes or so and can include three or four activities, like reading a story, singing songs, or listening to music. Invite your child to put his stuffed animals to bed, giving a kiss goodnight to each. Just as reading a favorite story again and again gives your child a treasured sense of control over his world, a well-structured bedtime will help him come to expect and look forward to settling into sleep.

• Don’t dwell on a “bad night.” If your child is up and down one night, praise his efforts at getting back to sleep instead of complaining about how difficult the night was. Young children want your praise and affection above all. Make a happy fuss at the breakfast table celebrating his “victory” and he’ll be even more likely to settle in easily, eventually dropping the middle-of-the-night wakeup calls altogether.

THE BEACH

           Blankets                               picnic basket                         beach umbrella

           Sunglasses                            beach ball                             pretend suntan lotion

           Beach towel                          buckets and shovels              shells

           Lawn chairs                          straw hats                             play picnic foods

           Beach Boys music                swimming caps                     surfboard

           Snorkels                               fins                                      flip flops

 

 

FLOWER SHOP

           Plastic flowers                      watering can                         seeds

           Florist smock                        flower/garden magazines       garden hats

           Small garden tools                potting soil                           vases

           Garden gloves                       ribbon                                  order book and pen

           Cash register/money             phone                                   plastic pots

           Styrofoam squares                baskets                     

          

 

RESTAURANT

           Tablecloth                            napkins                                dishes

           Tablewear                             menus (made w/ food pics)    order pads/pencils

           Sign for restaurant                aprons                                  hats

           Cash register                         trays                                     play food

          

 

VETERINARIAN

           Stuffed animals                    cotton balls                           gauze

           Surgical masks                      pamphlets on animals                      plastic gloves

           Play money                          needless syringes                  exam table

           Empty medicine bottles        pet brushes                           white lab coat

           Pet carriers                           magnifying glass                   stethoscope               

 

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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               ca00

FIREFIGHTER

           Yellow rubber raincoats        boots                                    old vacuum hose

           Phone                                   whistle                                            fire hats

           stepladder                             flashlight                              fire safety posters

           walkie-talkies                        gloves                                   baby dolls (to rescue)

 

 

PLUMBER

           Piping – all lengths, widths, shapes, sizes                          tools

           Toolbox                                measuring devices                 spigots

           Plungers                               hose/nozzles                         hardware store flyers

           Old shirt (w/ logo on pocket)

 

 

TOURIST/VACTION

           Suitcases                              ‘tickets’                                sunglasses

           Maps                                    Hawaiian shirts                     ‘passports’

           ‘travelers checks’/money       postcards                              travel magazines

           camera

 

 

BAKERY

           Fresh playdough                   measuring spoons                 rolling pins

           Aprons                                            oven mits                             cookie sheets

           Pictures of baked goods         chef’s hat                             muffin tins

           Cake pans                             mixing bowls                        spoons

           Cake decorators                    order pads                             ‘recipes’

           Cookie cutters                      flour shaker                          cupcake papers

          

 

POST OFFICE

           Envelopes                             postcards                              stamps (seals/stickers)

           Boxes or packages                 dufflebag                              junk mail

           ‘mailbox’                              scale                                     mailperson hat

           stickers                                 paper punch                          cash register

           old blue shirt                        cash register                         pens, pencils, paper

 

 

FISHING

           Boat (box)                            Styrofoam packing ‘worms’  net

           Tackle box                            sinkers/bobbers                     fishing hat

           Pole w/ string, magnets         ‘fish’ (w/ magnets)               binoculars

           Fishing magazines                camera                                 thermos

CAMPING/FOREST RANGER

           Canteen                                flashlight                              ‘tent’

           Knapsack                              grill                                      fake campfire

           Sticks w/ marshmallows        binoculars                             small skillet

           Mosquito-netting                  nature books                         food supplies

           Sleeping bags                        thermos                                fishing poles

           Fly swatter                           plastic ants                           small cooler

           Lawn furniture                     orange vests                          paper plates

 

 

HOUSE PAINTER

           Smocks                                paint brushes                        paint rollers

           Buckets of water  (‘paint’)    rags                                      paint trays

           Cap                                      old shirts                              step ladder

           Paint color sample wheels

 

 

ASTRONAUT

           Helmet                                            ‘airtank’                               earphones

           Globe                                   ‘control panel’                                 moonboots

           Flag                                      ‘moonrocks’                         walkie-talkies

           Star decals                            a ‘rocketship’                       ‘food’ in plastic bags

          

 

OPTOMITRIST

         Eye chart                              pointer                                 glasses (frames)

           Table mirror                         white lab coat                       glass cases     

           Wooden spoon (for covering one eye to read chart)            pictures of eyes

 

 

JEWELRY STORE

           Old jewelry (check for safety) necklaces, bracelets, rings, clip-on earrings

cash register                         play money                           ‘display case’

           Jewelry boxes                       small mirrors                       

 

 

SHOE STORE

           Lots of shoes                        shoe boxes                            cash register

           Play money                          ruler or foot measurer           shoestrings

           Shoe horn                             sacks                                    pictures of shoes

           Hook w/ service numbers      small chairs                          full-length mirror

           Shoe polish (empty)              order pad                              extra shoe laces

            

                                                                                                                        

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DOCTOR/NURSE

           Paper nurse’s hats                 surgical masks/booties           stethoscope

           Cotton balls                          Band aids                             telephone

           Scale                                    white aprons or lab coat        small flashlight

           Hot water bottle                    gauze                                   rubber gloves

           Dolls/doll beds                      syringes (w/o needles)                      empty medicine bottle

           Hospital ‘gown’                    doctor bag                            x-rays

           Thermometer                        RX pad/files                          old crutches (small)

 

 

WEDDING

           White dresses                       veil or lace curtain                Bride magazines

           Wedding ‘cake’                     rings                                     bow ties

           Flowers                                paper to make invites            white dress up shoes

           Suit                                      decorations                           black clergy ‘robe’

           Wedding pictures                  camera                                     “Just Married” sign

 

 

HAIR STYLIST

           Plastic combs                        mirrors                                            hairpins

           Rollers                                  spray bottles                         barrettes

           Appointment book                plastic capes                         brushes

           Hair dryer (w/ cord cut off)    magazines                            play money

           Curling irons (cord cut off)   empty shampoo bottles         ribbons

           Posters of hair styles             telephone                             hair clips

           Wigs/wig heads                     towels                                  headbands

Note: things used on hair must be sanitized after use by children.

 

 

GAS STATION/AUTO MECHANIC

           Tools/tool box                       steering wheels                     play money

           Work clothes                        ‘oil’ cans                              ‘gas’ hose

           Cash register                         squeegee/bucket                    poster with prices

           Tire gauge                            car keys                                funnel (for oil)

           Rags                                     tire pump                             auto supply catalogue

           Gas can (new)                       used/washed or new auto parts

 

 

OFFICE WORKER

           Desk name plate                   old forms/files                       typewriter

           Briefcase                              memo pad                            phones/phone books

           Paper/pens/pencils                 calculator                             stamps

           Old computer                       stapler                                  paperclips

           Junk mail                             pen holder                            rolodex

POLICE OFFICER

           Pad for writing tickets                      small clipboard                     police hat

           Stop signs                             license plates                        blue shirt

           Walkie-talkie                        badge                                   911 signs

           Black belt                             steering wheel                      whistle (siren)

 

 

GROCERY STORE

           Play food                              check out area                      egg cartons

           Paper bags                            cash register                         play money

           Sale flyers                             grocery cart/basket                aprons

           Purses/wallets                       plastic fruit/vegetables          coupons

 

 

CARWASH      

         Tricycles                               buckets                                 water

           Buckets                                sponges                           squeegees

           Hose                                     car wash signs                      play money

 

 

SCHOOL

           Chalkboard/chalk                  notebooks                             pencils/paper

           Books                                   backpack                              lunchbox

           Chairs                                  teachers ‘desk’                      flag

 

 

PIZZA PARLOR

           Discarded pizza boxes           play money                           order pad

           Phones                                            bakery aprons                       cash register

           ‘stove’                                  play pizza cutter                   prep area

           Cardboard circles (pizzas) with felt on one side

           Felt toppings – green peppers, mushrooms, sausage, pepperoni, olives

 

 

BANK

           Play money                          deposit slips/checks               bankbooks     

           Adding machine/calculator    teller window                        cash box

           Rubber stamps/ink pads        paper/pens                            coin rolls

          

 

ICE CREAM PARLOR

           Ice cream scoops                   paper ‘cones’                        empty ice cream tubs

           Play money/cash register       apron and hat                       order pads/pencils

           Wipe-off board ‘menu’           empty whipped cream spray cans

Creating these unique hats will give children a “head start” in building creative-thinking and fine-motor skills!

Materials:

• for base of hats: Large plastic containers (yogurt or margarine), Styrofoam plates or bowls, shoeboxes
• child safety scissors and sharp “adult” scissor
• white drawing paper
• markers, tempera paint, brushes
• collage materials such as yarn, pom-poms, wire, feathers, construction paper, tissue paper, foil, sequins, buttons, paper tubes, Styrofoam pieces, and small paper cups
• white craft glue
• yarn or string

Objective: Children will engage in a group celebration to foster social skills, creativity, and fine- and gross-motor development.

In Advance: Send a note home to tell families that the children will be designing crazy hats. Request donations of materials to use as the base of the hats.

ACTIVITY

1. Explain to children that they will make crazy hats. Collect and set out art materials and invite small groups of children to work in the art area.
2. Ask children to choose the base of their hat and how they want the hat to sit on their head. Will they put the open end of the shoebox over their head or sit it on top of their head with the open side facing up? Cover plastic containers with white paper and cut two small holes on either side of the base of the hat. Run string, yarn, or elastic thread through the holes to secure the hat onto the child’s head
3. Encourage the children to have fun and explore the materials and, if they wish, combine painting and drawing along with collage. They can cut and bend paper to create sculptured shapes to their hats. Small cups or separated egg cartons can be glued onto their hats to create fun textures.
4. Ask children to plan a Crazy Hat Fashion Show for families or another classroom. Children can make invitations and prepare a special snack. Prepare a special area for the children to use as their “runway” and encourage them to practice how they will “model” their hats. Older children can write or dictate a description or story about their hat to be read as they model. Let the Crazy Hat Fashion Show begin.

Curriculum Connection

Family Involvement: Family Hats.
Send a note home to families asking them to assist their child in learning and recording information about the kinds of hats that they have in their home. Ask children to compare their information. What are the different types of hats people have? Which family has the most hats or the least hats? What types of hats are used for people’s work?

BOOKS
Hats by Debbie Bailey
(Annick Press, 1991; $5.95)

Hats, Hats, Hats* by Ann Morris
(Scholastic Inc.; $3.95)

I Want a Hat Like That by Tom Cooke
(Random House, Inc., 2000; $3.25)

Shhhhh!

Make a special sign for quiet time.

• Quiet!, by Paul Bright
• posterboard or cardboard
• markers
• glue
• glitter
• hole punch
• yarn
• collage materials, if available (paper scraps, felt, feathers)

Reading tips:
1. Quiet! tells the story of a mama and papa lion who don’t want any of the jungle animals to wake their cub from his morning nap. Papa Lion struggles to keep everyone quiet until his own stomach growling finally wakes his son.

2. As you read the book with your child, ask him to predict what will happen next — will more noisy animals come along? What will Papa Lion do? What does he think might happen at the end of the story?

3. Together, brainstorm other ways Papa Lion might have kept his son from being woken up.

To extend the reading:
1. Invite your child to create a Quiet! sign of his own. He can put this on his door when he needs some quiet time, or hang it on the door of a sleeping younger sibling or an older one doing homework.

2. Cut a piece of posterboard or cardboard approximately 10 inches by 8 inches. Punch two holes at the top.

3. Invite your child to decorate the sign with markers, glitter, and glue. He can even use collage materials, if available.

4. String yarn through the holes and tie the ends together. The sign is now ready for hanging!

Learning benefits:
• provides practice with prediction skills
• encourages creativity

Compose a canvas of rainbow-colored circles to create a work of modern art.

• various objects for tracing circles, such as paper cups, spools, film canisters, old records, bowls, yogurt containers
• tempera paints
• paint brushes
• 12″ x 18″ paper

Display all the round objects on the table and talk about which object will make the largest and smallest circle prints.  Show your child how to dip the mouth of the cups in tempera paint to make an outline of a circle and print on the paper. Model how to use the paintbrush to cover the whole object for a solid circle. Encourage your child to make different-sized circles all over her paper. Colors and circles can overlap. Allow to dry. Display the work for all to enjoy.

• 2/3 cup water
• 2 cups salt
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 cup cornstarch
• beads, colored macaroni and other small objects

Add 2/3 cup water to the salt in a pan, stir and cook over med. heat, stirring 4-5 minutes until salt is dissolved. Remove mix from heat. Gradually mix 1/2 cup water with the cornstarch in a separate container. Stir until smooth. Add the cornstarch mixture to the salt mixture. Return to low heat and stir and cook until smooth. The goop will thicken quickly. Remove from heat and use for modeling objects. Objects made from this goop can also be hardened in the sun. This mix will not crumble when dry. Objects like macaroni, etc. can be added to the goop, and adhered to the models.