How to Encourage a Child to Laugh

Laughter isn't only fun, it has incredible heart health benefits. Laughter increases blood flow by more than 20 percent, which pumps healthy oxygen throughout your body. These health benefits also hold true for your child; even young babies benefit from laughter. There are proven ways to encourage your child's sense of humor so he can get the health benefits and you can get a happier home.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Keep a supportive atmosphere. Your child will be willing to laugh if he feels comfortable in his environment. Building your child's self-esteem will also help him feel confident enough to explore his own humor.
2. Maintain a playful attitude with each other. When you laugh and play with your child, you're modeling that behavior.
3. Allow your child to be silly. And you can be silly with him. Something as silly as putting a diaper on your head can have your child rolling with laughter.
4. Tell each other funny stories. You can share experiences from your own life, or you can find funny books. You can even use picture books and let your child use his imagination to come up with his own funny story.
5. Play peek-a-boo. For babies and young toddlers, this game is sure to bring out the giggles. Find other games that your child enjoys for even more laughter.
6. Tickle your child. Young and old, we all have our ticklish spots. Your child may act like he doesn't want to be tickled, but he'll soon be giggling and coming back for more.
7. Teach your child how to laugh at himself. When you're able to laugh at your own mistakes, your child will be able to do that too. Your child will learn that it's okay to laugh at yourself when other people might laugh at you. This is an important tool for him to possess as he gets older.
8. Draw boundaries. There are inappropriate times to laugh, and your child will look to you to learn those lines.
9. Create fun family traditions. These help keep the atmosphere of your home light and it gives your child something to laugh about during the tradition, and later when he thinks back on that wonderful time together.