Laugh Together | Day Twenty-Six
I am thankful for laughter, except when milk comes out of my nose. ~Woody Allen
I have this memory of sleeping in a bunkbed in a cabin full of other girls {was it summer camp?}. I was somewhere around fifteen years old. And I had a case of the sillies. I couldn't stop laughing! Belly laughs. Snorts. Giggles. Then those silent but still loud tummy risers, perfect for playing that game where you lay heads on bellies in a circle of friends and laugh together.
Although, in this case, I think I was the only one laughing. The rest of them had long since decided whatever it was wasn't funny anymore and had gone to sleep. But there I lay, alone in my mirth. And I still remember it clearly. It was pleasant. I fell asleep smiling.
There is something seriously therapeutic about laughter. Laughter decreases stress hormones like cortisol and increases the body's levels of positive chemicals like serotonin. Laughter is said to enhance your lifespan and activate your immune system. Laughter bonds human beings together in common enjoyment. Laughter makes you happy.
Sometimes all it takes is a silly look across the table. Or a nonsense word. Sometimes we read the words in their favorite books all wrong. Or make silly noises. Or sing silly songs with silly voices.
Sometimes we make a human dog pile and laugh together on the bed.
Sometimes we give big tickles and little tickles.
Sometimes we jump on packaging bubbles from Amazon.com.
Sometimes we pretend a banana is a cell phone with bad reception.
There are days {like yesterday} when I wish I had intentionally encouraged more laughter. Some days are hard and there seems to be more crying than laughing. But I want to remember that I play a big part in setting the atmosphere of the home...and lightening the mood will almost always improve the behavior.
So laugh with your child! Laugh till it hurts!!
Happy children know how to laugh.
And if you can't seem to break a smile this morning....watch this. I dare you not to laugh.
Click here to read the rest of the posts in the series, 31 Days to Happier Children.
I have this memory of sleeping in a bunkbed in a cabin full of other girls {was it summer camp?}. I was somewhere around fifteen years old. And I had a case of the sillies. I couldn't stop laughing! Belly laughs. Snorts. Giggles. Then those silent but still loud tummy risers, perfect for playing that game where you lay heads on bellies in a circle of friends and laugh together.
Although, in this case, I think I was the only one laughing. The rest of them had long since decided whatever it was wasn't funny anymore and had gone to sleep. But there I lay, alone in my mirth. And I still remember it clearly. It was pleasant. I fell asleep smiling.
There is something seriously therapeutic about laughter. Laughter decreases stress hormones like cortisol and increases the body's levels of positive chemicals like serotonin. Laughter is said to enhance your lifespan and activate your immune system. Laughter bonds human beings together in common enjoyment. Laughter makes you happy.
Sometimes all it takes is a silly look across the table. Or a nonsense word. Sometimes we read the words in their favorite books all wrong. Or make silly noises. Or sing silly songs with silly voices.
Sometimes we make a human dog pile and laugh together on the bed.
Sometimes we give big tickles and little tickles.
Sometimes we jump on packaging bubbles from Amazon.com.
Sometimes we pretend a banana is a cell phone with bad reception.
There are days {like yesterday} when I wish I had intentionally encouraged more laughter. Some days are hard and there seems to be more crying than laughing. But I want to remember that I play a big part in setting the atmosphere of the home...and lightening the mood will almost always improve the behavior.
So laugh with your child! Laugh till it hurts!!
Happy children know how to laugh.
And if you can't seem to break a smile this morning....watch this. I dare you not to laugh.
Click here to read the rest of the posts in the series, 31 Days to Happier Children.