I love to laugh. My wife also loves to laugh. We love to laugh together and hope that some day our children will love to laugh with us. We know that laughter is one of the greatest cures to any problem. While it might not solve anything it nevertheless helps us to get through the bad times and look forward to the good ones. It is our good sense of humor that has helped sustain us when we thought we were not going to make it. Because we know that a good sense of humor is very important, we would like to help our children to have a good sense of humor as well. But how can we make sure that this happens? Is there some sure method? It is difficult to tell what method is really best when personality is at stake. Some children just don’t have the same sense of humor as their parents. Some children are more serious than others and don’t want to laugh. This is okay, although we need to realize that even the most serious child can develop a stronger sense of humor. While we might not be raising comedians, we would like our children to be able to help themselves by laughing at the tough stuff in life.
One of the best ways to help encourage a sense of humor in your children is to set a good example. When parents laugh a lot their children are far more likely to laugh as well. Although personalities are different in families, this doesn’t mean that a good sense of humor cannot be shared by all.
The best time to set a good example is when things are hard. If you can laugh at the difficult times as well as the good you will surely make a great impression on your kids. This will help them to see that a good sense of humor is a tool. They will know that they can use it when things are difficult and when a dark storm cloud hangs over them. Children observe their parents closely, they watch to see how they will respond. A pattern of humor in the face of adversity teaches children to approach things in the same way.
You cannot fake this kind of example. Children can sense insincerity very quickly. They know when you are lying or trying to fool them. Be sincere in your example and your children will learn something. Otherwise they might just suspect you of trying to pull the wool over their eyes.
If you can laugh regularly at many different things your children will notice. Surround yourself with the sorts of things that help you to laugh. Make sure that you laugh and joke a great deal with your spouse or partner in front of your children. This will help to teach your children to be at ease with their future partner. It will show them that a loving relationship is fun and something they should pursue.
Another way to set a good example is to participate in activities that regularly make you laugh. Go to funny movies or to comedy clubs with your children. Regular participation in activities that make you laugh will be an important part of the puzzle.
There are lots of different ways to set a good example for your children. Don’t limit yourself to only one method. Be creative and experiment with various things. You will find that a combination of various methods will help you to encourage a sense of humor in your children.
