The Development of a Sense of Humor in Childhood
The Development of a Sense of Humor in Childhood
The Development of a Sense of Humor in Childhood It is important to develop a sense of humor in childhood. There are many aspects of humor that are developed during childhood and many different ways humor facilitates children’s development. Children at all different ages have different senses of humor. Children learn and express humor through play, and there are many problems that arise from not developing humor in childhood. This paper will explain how humor can help a child socially and how not developing humor can cause children to be rejected by their peers. It also explains a handful of aspects that children go through as they develop humor. When reading this paper you will find that children at different ages have different senses of humor and can express them differently while learning humor through play. Humor has been characterized as one of the most flexible tools in social interaction, serving a variety of functions including enhancing relationships, increasing or maintaining group cohesion, relieving tension, saving face, and expressing aggression in a socially acceptable way. When dealing with children, humor plays a large role in development and it serves a social and developmental purpose (Rybak, 2013). Humor also assists in the growth of social skills for children with disabilities (Semrud-Clikeman & Glass, 2008). McGhee (1989) referred to humor as a “social lubricant,” which makes social interaction easier and more pleasant. As he expressed, the effective communicator frequently uses humor to attract or maintain attention, and to express views otherwise difficult to communicate (qtd. In Semrud-Clikeman & Glass, 2008). When children have a good sense of humor they can see things from many perspectives other than the most obvious, be spontaneous, grasp unconventional ideas or ways of thinking, see beyond the surface of things, enjoy and participate in the playful aspects of life,
The Development of a Sense of Humor in Childhood It is important to develop a sense of humor in childhood. There are many aspects of humor that are developed during childhood and many different ways humor facilitates children’s development. Children at all different ages have different senses of humor. Children learn and express humor through play, and there are many problems that arise from not developing humor in childhood. This paper will explain how humor can help a child socially and how not developing humor can cause children to be rejected by their peers. It also explains a handful of aspects that children go through as they develop humor. When reading this paper you will find that children at different ages have different senses of humor and can express them differently while learning humor through play. Humor has been characterized as one of the most flexible tools in social interaction, serving a variety of functions including enhancing relationships, increasing or maintaining group cohesion, relieving tension, saving face, and expressing aggression in a socially acceptable way. When dealing with children, humor plays a large role in development and it serves a social and developmental purpose (Rybak, 2013). Humor also assists in the growth of social skills for children with disabilities (Semrud-Clikeman & Glass, 2008). McGhee (1989) referred to humor as a “social lubricant,” which makes social interaction easier and more pleasant. As he expressed, the effective communicator frequently uses humor to attract or maintain attention, and to express views otherwise difficult to communicate (qtd. In Semrud-Clikeman & Glass, 2008). When children have a good sense of humor they can see things from many perspectives other than the most obvious, be spontaneous, grasp unconventional ideas or ways of thinking, see beyond the surface of things, enjoy and participate in the playful aspects of life,
References: Semrud-Clikeman, M., & Glass, K. (2010). The relation of humor and child development: Social, adaptive, and emotional aspects Rybak, P.P. (2013). Development of Humor: The missing puzzle piece of a social skills curriculum for preschoolers with autism and special needs Morreall, J. (1983). Taking laughter seriously. Albany: State University of New York Press.