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THE next time you feel like shouting or screaming at your child, try telling a joke instead. Many parents have learned that sharing a joke or laughing with their children can ease any difficult situation at home.

Humour is one of the best tools that parents can use in getting children to cooperate and learn. Children feel pressured when parents use angry words. They clam up and refuse to heed their parent’s advice when they are scolded. They go into defence mode before you can even complete the first sentence.

When both parent and child are in a jovial mood, they tend to open up to each other. It is easier to get your child to pick up his toys after playing, when you sing out your request in a funny song. Or if you share your story of how you got out of an embarrassing situation in school, your daughter may be more willing to share her version.

Parenting expert Jane Nelsen who wrote many books, including Positive Discipline and co-authored Raising Self-Reliant Children in a Self-Indulgent World, said humour can help parents instil the right kind of discipline. Using humour, parents and children can work together positively in a negative situation.

Say you want your son to finish up his dinner without fussing. Instead of scolding him for the umpteenth time, you can say to him: “Look! Your porridge has just turned into an gigantic super monster. How about eating him up?”

When your child realises that you are not upset with him, he may take a mouthful or two.

Humour can help turn a boring activity like eating porridge into an enjoyable one.Your son may end up eating more or less but at least there is no battle of wills at mealtime. Both parent and child are able to accept each other in a humorous situation. Your child may actually look forward to mealtimes.

Parents and children who laugh together feel closer to one another.

The best memories I have of my childhood are the jokes and laughter we shared in our family. When things got tough, we knew how to laugh about it. This changed our perspective. We felt we could solve any problem when we do not feel anxious.

Laughing is good for health. Our schoolchildren go through much stress in school and at home. Make time every day for a joke-sharing session. It’s good to laugh your blues away to maintain a healthy body and mind.

Children in schools today are afraid of making mistakes. Some take their mistakes so seriously that they may want to end their lives. They can see no other way out.

To help children to ease up, parents can try showing them how to laugh at themselves. Children are constantly observing their parents’ every action and reaction.

When you do the unexpected and laugh a little, they too will feel more relaxed when they make mistakes. This way, they may be more willing to try to do better the next time.

Children see things differently and feel differently from adults. They will go through stages when they enjoy different types of humour. Parents need to take note of this and respect them. Don’t tease them. It’s not funny when a joke is a tease.

It is enlightening for parents to enter their children ’s world by using humour. Follow their lead. When they want to be funny, laugh and pretend along with them. You may end up getting to know your children better and foster a stronger bond between parent and child.

Having a sense of humour can help both parent and child get through life’s challenges. Children become more confident when they know that they can explore many solutions to solve their problems.

It is indeed a great bonus for children to be able to use humour to make themselves healthier and happier.

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