Source: Fox News
Summary
Laughter is not only good for adults, but it’s also essential for children’s development, according to Dr. Jacqueline Harding, an early childhood expert at Middlesex University in London. Laughter and play help children navigate stress, build resilient minds, and develop emotional well-being. Harding’s book, “The Brain That Loves to Laugh,” suggests that joy is a complex biological phenomenon that helps children learn, connect, and grow. Laughter activates broad brain networks, boosts creativity, and engages working memory, while also altering internal chemistry by decreasing stress hormones and increasing “happiness chemicals.”
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The advice sounds familiar.
Laughter and play have been touted as essential for children’s development before. The American Academy of Pediatrics has long emphasized the importance of play in supporting social and cognitive development. Now, Dr. Harding’s research suggests that laughter is a vital catalyst for brain growth, emotional well-being, and social bonding. As experts continue to study the benefits of laughter, it’s clear that joy is a complex phenomenon that plays a critical role in healthy development.
Laughter has been shown to activate broad brain networks, including motor regions and the prefrontal cortex. It also boosts creativity, engages working memory, and alters internal chemistry. Perhaps most importantly, laughter establishes “co-regulation,” where a child learns to manage their own stress by drawing on a biological store of positive early experiences.
As we continue to learn more about the benefits of laughter, it’s clear that joy is not just a nicety, but a necessity for healthy development.
The pendulum of expert opinion continues to swing, but one thing remains constant: the importance of joy in our lives.
Author: Evan Null
