Nurturing a sense of humor

We all know that a small dose of humor can improve our moods dramatically. And a little giggle or smile often leads to more. One of the things I've most enjoyed about watching Lauri teach is her expert use of humor in the classroom. From silly songs, to silly ideas, to silly stories, Lauri is always looking for opportunities to bring humor into our mornings. She works to nurture each child's sense of humor by discovering what they each find funny.

Figuring out what young children find humorous can be a challenge. As they grow, and their cognitive skills develop, their ability to understand more complex humor increases. At three and four years old, many children are at the developmental stage where they appreciate the humor of misnaming. Lauri often uses misnaming to bring a smile to a child's face and we often see examples of children playing with this concept, labeling something as the exact opposite of what it is. Even the silly songs Lauri chooses such as the current favorite Down by the Bay add a smile to our faces.