The most obvious thing about children when they are laughing and playing is the inherent joy and happiness in what they're doing. Their faces beam with delight and they become so engrossed in the fun of the moment that they often do not even hear you when you speak to them. And it is important to realize that this relationship between joy and humor is a two-way street. That is, children are more likely to experience humor when in a happy, joyful state of mind, but can also create joy and happiness (that wasn't previously there) by engaging in humor and play.
Children with good humor skills are more popular and form friendships more readily, and this leads them to feel better about themselves. The intellectual gains stimulated by humor increase the odds of subsequently doing well in school, further strengthening the child¢â¡Ás growing sense of self-esteem. These good feelings about oneself will serve the child well the rest of her life.
There is now considerable evidence that humor is a powerful tool in coping with life stress among adults. With today's constantly escalating stress levels in relationships and on the job, it is more important than ever to find effective tools that give you the emotional resilience you need to handle these daily stresses and be happy. Kids who build strong humor skills prior to the adult years have a powerful advantage over their terminally serious peers when it comes to navigating daily stressors.
Childhood is actually the most effective time to learn to use humor as a coping tool. Kids who learn to use humor to manage upsets and difficult feelings will have a coping advantage the rest of their lives, because this skill will be well-honed by the time they become adults.
Among preschool children, play therapy has been known for many years to be an effective way to help young children cope with difficult experiences and emotions. Humor as a form of play has the same power beyond the preschool years. Older children can use humor to achieve mastery over anxiety, and to release angry feelings, just as adults do.