We’ve previously written about how dad jokes can further kids’ development, and now more research has come out supporting the idea that humor has an important role in parenting.
In a study published July 17, researchers out of Penn State College of Medicine surveyed around 300 American adults between the ages of 18 and 45, asking them 10 questions regarding their thoughts on and experiences with humor in parenting.
Over 70% participants said they believe humor can be an effective parenting tool, and over 60% said they either use or plan to use humor in their own parenting. Additionally, more than half reported being raised by parents who used humor, and researchers found “significant correlations” between the use of humor and the quality of respondents’ relationships with their parents.
“Specifically, the [around] 80% of participants who reported having a good relationship with their parents were significantly more likely to report that their parents had used humor in raising them” compared to those who either said they didn’t have a good relationship with their folks or provided an indeterminate response, the authors wrote.
“In addition to stress relief and easing social interactions, humor promotes language and literacy skills, creative problem solving, and resilience, and helps kids cope with disappointment,” Katie Hurley, a senior clinical advisor for The Jed Foundation who was not involved in the research, told CNN.
Limitations to the study include its relatively small sample size and the fact that the majority of participants were white males, the authors point out, but they say that it’s only the first of several to come.
It’s also important to note that humor isn’t a blanket answer to any problem and can sometimes do more harm than good.
“It’s something to be really careful about because children are resilient, but they’re also vulnerable, and there’s an inherent power imbalance between parents and children,” co-author Dr. Benjamin Levi explained to the outlet.
In other instances, though, using humor and playfulness may help de-escalate strong emotions. In their paper, Levi and his colleagues give the example of a toddler throwing a tantrum, suggesting that one way to use humor in that scenario is for the child’s parent to respond by saying “OK, it’s my turn now,” and then throwing their own tantrum.
“Because this catches the upset toddler by surprise, many children will stop crying and watch the parent’s tantrum-performance” they wrote, adding that the parents and child might continue to switch off throwing tantrums in rounds until one adult then suggests they move on to a different activity.
“Playful disruption of this sort not only helps resolve tension, but also models creativity and flexibility of mind, which can serve the interests of both children and parents,” the researchers noted.
Importantly, Hurley told CNN, avoid employing sarcasm, and ensure both parent and child are on the same team when using humor: “Stick to the parent jokes and humorous problem-solving efforts that you know will decrease stress and keep the family engaged in a positive way.”
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