by Dr. Ken Canfield
Did you have a good laugh with your grandkids on April Fool’s Day? I hope so. And more than that, I hope you can have fun and enjoy humor with them often—even every time you see them.
Did you know that laughter is good for us? According to the Mayo Clinic, laughter stimulates vital organs, soothes tensions and helps to relieve stress. And over time there are significant health benefits.
All of that also applies to your grandkids. One researcher found that children who appreciate humor tend to develop higher creative skills, largely because humor and creativity both draw on divergent thinking—they bring new and unique insights to problems and situations. These children tend to deal well with the unexpected, which is great for day-to-day living.
And we all know …
Laughter tends to bring people closer together.
As one humorist said, “Laughter is the shortest distance between two people.” Smiles and laughs bring out the best in people, create a feeling of closeness, and help to create lasting memories.
“Dad jokes” have received a lot of attention (and a lot of rolled eyes) in recent years. Why don’t we claim some of that territory for grandparent jokes?
How do you stop a rhino from charging? Answer: Take away his credit card.
You can come up with better ones, but you surely know how laughter can create an almost magical connection. You both let your guard down and suddenly you’re in an atmosphere where real communication and enjoyment of each other’s company can occur. You even begin to laugh at your own shortcomings.
Really this is about much more than knowing riddles and funny stories; it’s adopting a mindset or making a commitment to bring fun to our grandkids’ lives. Here are a few suggestions for how to do that.
Always be watching for funny (or just fun) ideas.
Take a few steps into your grandkids’ world to see what they’re reading, learning, and listening to, so you can figure out what tickles each one’s funny bone. Then start saving good ideas on your phone or a notebook that you can share later with them. It might seem like a lot of work for just a laugh, but these can be part of your “special thing” with your grandkids. Maybe find an old comedy movie that you enjoyed years ago and watch it with your grandkids or share videos with them that make you laugh—making sure they are parent-approved, of course.
You could also make use of the unusual holidays that come along on the calendar. How could you have fun with your grandkids on Haiku Poetry Day or Look Alike Day later this month (April), or maybe Eat What You Want Day or Dance Like a Chicken Day in May? Then in June you can celebrate Drive In Movie Day followed by National Doughnut Day. Here’s a list of many more possibilities.
Play Around with Words
This is especially effective as your grandchild’s reading and writing skills are emerging, around first or second grade, but it’s great for kids at any age. Riddles, puns, and brain teasers all lay the foundation for divergent thinking that will help them become problem solvers down the road. Encourage creativity here even if you allow for some less-than-perfect grammar occasionally.
Join Them in Make Believe
Again, researchers have found that imagination and fantasy help brain function in unique ways. Your grandchild might not even need any encouragement here other than you being willing to join him there. Ask lots of “What if?” questions. Pull out your silly voices. Start a three-way conversation between you, your grandchild and a tree or some other inanimate object.
Grandparents, if you want to expand your grandchildren’s horizons and keep yourself young-at-heart, keep playing and laughing with them. There are great benefits that come with laughter, and you’re helping to bring more of those to their lives.
What’s your favorite way to make your grandkids laugh? Share some of those moments with other grandparents on our Facebook page here.
