To finding the funny.
I was volunteering in the school cafeteria the other day when, for whatever reason, it struck me that it would be entertaining to pretend it was really hard to open whatever the kids asked me to open. That yogurt? Sealed shut. That avocado cup? Superglued. That Slim Jim? Impossible.
As I exaggerated my struggle, I made funny, exasperated faces at the child who’d handed me their snack—“Did you put extra glue on this?”—and I noticed something. After a brief flash of curiosity, they’d smile, then laugh. Eventually, I’d “triumphantly” hand back their opened item with a dramatic, “Whew! That was a tough one!”
That little bit of silliness turned a routine exchange into a genuine moment of connection.
And that got me thinking about how humor is such an underused strategy for building connection. Connecting with our kids is ultimately about making them feel seen—and humor is a powerful way to do just that.
(Then again, this coming from a woman who once asked Siri to play fart noises on the car ride to school to cheer up her own child. Say what you will, I practice what I preach.)
So, here are a few ways to bring more humor into your day-to-day interactions with children—at home, at school, or anywhere in between:
Tell silly jokes. They can be groaners, knock-knock jokes, or clever one-liners—it doesn’t matter. What matters are the giggles and the moments you share.
Pretend. Just like my “struggle” in the cafeteria, pretending is always right there, ready to help. Sure, your child can get their shoe on—but how much funnier is it if you suddenly pretend it no longer fits their foot?
“Forget” things. I “forget” my kid’s name regularly. I’ve called him everything from Captain McSillyPants to Bob Pickles. He knows I know his real name—but it never fails to make him smile (and get his attention).
Sing. Yes, you can. No, it doesn’t matter if you can’t carry a tune. Make up a song or belt out a favorite. Bonus points if they join in.
Make funny noises. I give you full permission to make fart noises. Full stop. Have fun.
Here’s to finding the funny in the everyday, and using it to connect with our kids. The world can feel a little heavy lately, and I’m guessing that they (and you) could use a laugh.