Laughter is the best medicine. They say it for a really good reason.

And I highly recommend it. There is no replacement for a good hearty LOL, for the mind, body, and soul. Especially for children. Laughter has been shown to have many health benefits, including reducing stress, boosting the immune system, and improving mood. I often find the relationship in and around and amongst the family drastically improves as they come to a common ground where everyone is equal. And children love that

We all know that, of course.

But when it comes to our children, the question is - are our children laughing today?

So how do we bring real laughing sessions into a daily routine?

Play games like UNO cards (which is my personal favorite) and cheat if that brings in the spice

Chasing games

Role Play with extra melodrama

Name, place, animal thing

Cross and knots

I spy with my eye

The good old memory game- where you build on the list of vegetables or fruits or country names

Play catch with a ball

Join in with the child’s friend to play a common game

Aiming paper balls at each other or at a target

My very personal favorite- Card games

Just Dance- Turn up the music and have a dance party with your child. Dancing can be a fun way to get moving and release endorphins, which can lead to laughter.

Jokes and riddles: Share jokes and riddles with your child, or encourage them to come up with their own. Even the corniest jokes can sometimes be enough to elicit a giggle.

Make silly faces together and see who can come up with the funniest one.

Storytime with a twist- Play mad libs with your child, which involves filling in the blanks of a story with random words. The resulting story can often be hilarious. Even making up stories- with each one contributing one add online to the previous or even Playing improv games with your child, such as “Yes, and…” where you each take turns building on a story, or “Whose line is it anyway?” where you make up silly responses to prompts.

The key is to find activities that your child enjoys and that allows for some silliness and fun. Laughter is a natural mood booster, and incorporating it into our daily lives can have many benefits for both children and adults.

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Bring in a little laughter….