by Kerry Cordy
If you are working on your Laughter Badge through either the Frontier Girls or Quest Program or are just in the mood for a good giggle continue reading to learn more about laughter.
Laughter is the Best Medicine
They say laughter is the best medicine and I think we could all use a little humor in our lives. Start by learning a wide variety of silly jokes. Then tell them to your friends and family to make them laugh and brighten their day. The sillier the better. The Red Tricycle has a post with 202 Hilarious Jokes for Kids such as:
Why did the teddy bear say no to dessert?
Because she was stuffed.
or
How do you stop an astronaut’s baby from crying?
You rocket!
Believe it or not laughter actually IS good for your health! Laughter strengthens your immune system, boosts mood, diminishes pain, and protects you from the damaging effects of stress. Read through Help Guide’s article Laughter is the Best Medicine to discover all the ways laughter can benefit your health.
Why Do We Laugh?
Ever wonder why we laugh? What causes it? There are lots of reasons why we laugh. Most of the time it is because we find something funny like a silly movie, the antics of a friend, or a good joke. Laughter is a way of expressing joy and to let others know that we like them and that we are friendly. We also laugh when we are uncomfortable or scared. In this case, laughter is a way to say, “Everything is ok.” It is a way to reassure ourselves that things are not as bad as they seem. Did you know that laughter is contagious? When one person starts laughing it frequently spreads to those around them. Look through the types of laughter below and as you test out each one, see which ones are more contagious than others.
Types of Laughter
There are many types of laughter from a guffaw to a giggle. Check out these synonyms for laughter and find out what each one means. How many can you imitate? Try holding a contest to see who can imitate each form of laughter the best.
- Chuckle
- Giggle
- Guffaw
- Roar
- Shriek
- Snicker
- Cackle
- Chortle
- Crack Up
- Crow
- Howl
- Snigger
- Snort
- Titter
LOL Around the World
In the digital world, there are many ways to express laughter from emojis to emoticons to text acronyms. Every country expresses laughter online a different way. Read through this great article from Europe’s Not Dead called European LOL that explains the customs behind the expression of laughter in 27 different countries.
Other countries also have different traditions, beliefs and behaviors regarding laughter. For example in Japan, most women cover their mouths when they laugh. Find out why here:
Japanese customs in laughing
https://blog.gaijinpot.com/why-japanese-women-cover-mouth-…/
In Navajo culture a baby’s first laugh is time to be celebrated. Read about this wonderful tradition here: https://www.aestheticsofjoy.com/…/navajo-celebration-babys…/
MadLibs
Ever play MadLibs? That silly game where you randomly choose nouns, verbs and adjectives to insert into a story that results in hilarious results? Try some today to give yourself a good giggle. If you don’t have any on hand, try this free online version.
