How to Give Someone a Sense of Humor: Tips & Tricks Revealed!

Like any parent, do you hope your little one turns out to be humorous? Jokes, puns, quick wit… Learn how to nurture this mindset with the help of Bruno Fortin, a psychologist.

How Does a Child’s Sense of Humor Develop?

Humor initially manifests through visual stimuli. For infants, it is linked to surprise, the release of tension, and pleasant sensations. Simple actions like playing peek-a-boo (“look, mommy hasn’t disappeared!”), lifting the child up high, or tickling can elicit lots of laughter. As their vision develops, bright colors also start to bring joy. Later, sounds such as rhymes and funny names add to the humor. As children grow, understanding comes into play: breaking a routine or exaggerating something (like hygiene habits) can provoke laughter. By around 6 years old, children realize that they can capture others’ attention by telling jokes during social interactions. By the age of 10, humor becomes more sophisticated with taboo subjects, wordplay, and absurd everyday scenarios. Some children learn that humor can enhance their social standing and help them make friends. Shyer children might use it to protect themselves and gain acceptance, while the more charismatic ones use it to charm. Thus, humor evolves into a complex trait by adulthood.

How Can You Encourage Its Development?

For infants to laugh, they must feel safe; otherwise, how can they enjoy surprises? As they grow older, being surrounded by accepting people and protected from judgmental eyes allows them to let loose. Children should be around kind adults and friendly peers in a relaxed atmosphere since laughter is contagious and thrives in a trusting environment. They should have access to humorous materials (cartoons, books, videos, songs…), participate in parties, group games, and attend performances. An audience can inspire verbal creativity and antics. The reactions of other children are crucial in establishing a habit of being funny and enjoying others’ humor. Kids also need a basic understanding of the world to appreciate the absurdity of humorous situations presented to them, like a talking banana, an adult dressed as a baby, or a dog that moos. A logical mind helps them make connections, draw comparisons, and identify and create funny scenarios.

Should Parents Act as an “Audience”?

Yes and no. Yes, in that parents are the enforcers of family rules, which should allow for spontaneity, unconventional perspectives, and playfulness. Also, parents who are available and responsive encourage their children to develop creativity and presence, and thus humor. No, because children benefit more from parents who are genuinely humorous than from those who are usually strict but occasionally attentive to their humorous attempts. Especially if the encouragement lacks constructive feedback. In such cases, the child might turn into a sort of “clownish monster,” with an increasing frequency of poor jokes… Parents can guide their children to improve without being judgmental and can foster empathy in them, the ability to put themselves in someone else’s shoes and anticipate their reaction. If the other person isn’t laughing, it might not be humor but aggression. By teaching children to consider the consequences of their actions and words, parents promote the healthy use of humor and, simultaneously, social skills. We can laugh about anything, but not with just anyone…