Researchers at the University of Stirling (UK) have revealed that parents who joke around and pretend with their children are helping them learn ‘out of the box thinking’ that develops important life skills.
“Pretending helps children learn about the world, interact with others, be creative and solve problems.” says researcher Dr Elena Hoicka.
Dr Hoicka’s study has examined how the two very similar concepts of joking and pretending develop in children aged between 15 and 24 months. Explaining the difference between joking and pretending, Dr Hoicka says: “Both involve intentionally doing or saying the wrong thing. However, joking is about doing something wrong just for the sake of it. In contrast, pretending is about doing something wrong which is imagined to be right. For example, parents might use a sponge like a duck while pretending but use a cat as a duck when joking.”
So…the bottom line…lighten up and enjoy a bit of mucking around…you’re teaching your kids important life and social skills. Goodness knows we can all enjoy a good laugh!