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Study shows making kids laugh helps their brains be more resilient
Researchers say laughter lowers children’s stress hormones and strengthens memory, mood and bonding through shared play with parents and caregivers.
- Dr. Jacqueline Harding, an early childhood expert at Middlesex University in northwest London, argues in her new book 'The Brain That Loves to Laugh' that laughter helps children navigate life's challenges and handle stress.
- While laughter may seem trivial in childhood, growing research now suggests it plays a much bigger role in child development than most people realize, moving beyond its traditional perception as a reward after serious work.
- Neuroimaging studies show laughter activates multiple brain regions tied to memory and problem-solving, while decreasing stress hormones cortisol and epinephrine and increasing happiness chemicals dopamine, serotonin and endorphins.
- When parents and children laugh together, bonding chemicals increase in both people and their brains become more connected, strengthening emotional relationships and building children's resilience to stressful events.
- Dr. Harding advocates that safe relationships and non-stressful play environments must be prioritized over curriculum, questioning whether hope, humor and human connection are missing links needed to refresh current educational paradigms.
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Total News Sources41
Leaning Left7Leaning Right7Center15Last UpdatedBias Distribution52% Center
Bias Distribution
- 52% of the sources are Center
52% Center
L 24%
C 52%
R 24%
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