Simple games help nurture your baby’s developing sense of humor. By Alice Sterling Honig, Ph.D.
A baby’s laughter may be the sweetest sound in the world. It’s so infectious! When you get to giggling together, the moment is even more rewarding — in more ways than one. Sharing laughter not only makes you both feel good, it builds trust between you while reinforcing your baby’s feelings of approval. There are many ways to interact with her that will get the giggles going and in turn help develop her sense of humor.
Mismatching. Babies love when something unfamiliar to them is paired with something familiar — for example, when Daddy takes a wash cloth in his teeth and wags his head back and forth like a dog.
Funny sounds. At around 8 months, fricatives — those sounds you make by pushing air forcefully through your teeth such as “foo foo” or “physicist” — get a big response.
Body games. You can evoke laughter with a little surprise hug or gentle tickle when you play This Little Piggy with your baby’s fingers. As you get to the pinky and chant, “And this little piggy goes, ‘Wee wee wee all the way home,’” gently creep up your baby’s arm and tickle her lightly under the chin.
Laughing and Learning. Other sources of laughter and joy for babies are less about acting silly and more about skill development and what babies are learning about the world around them, such as:
Mastery experiences. A toddler who’s been struggling with a puzzle may laugh as he turns his wrist just right so the piece fits. Success is a source of joy for little ones.
Connecting intellectually. As toddlers begin to understand more about their environment, they express more humor. A 2-year-old may thrust her toes into the armhole of her nightgown and shout, “Shoe!” as she giggles. Because she also thrusts her foot into a sneaker, she makes the connection to shoes by pushing her toes into the armhole.
You can help to encourage your child’s developing sense of humor by being silly with her and being open to opportunities to find laughter in everyday activities.
About the Author
Alice Sterling Honig, Ph.D., is a professor emerita of child development at Syracuse University. She is the author of Secure Relationships: Nurturing Infant-Toddler Attachments in Early Care Settings.
Adapted from www.scholastic.com
