Kids laughter is as natural as rain

Kids' laughter is spontaneous, contagious and happens without encouragements or special stimulants

We were born to laugh. Babies start laughing when they are 10 -12 weeks old - usually after a good bowel movement. By the time kids are 4 years old, they laugh on the average 400 times a day.

Unfortunately, adults stifle the kids' natural inclination to laugh. I am sure that you will recognize the "seriousness directions" we received from our parents:

- Wipe that stupid grin off your face!

- Can't you ever be serious?

- You're not funny!

- Act your age!

- Keep laughing and I'll give you something to cry about

- This is not he place nor the time!

Is it any wonder that we lose our ability and inclination to laugh?

Dr. Madan Kataria, the Mumbai physician who founded "Laughter Yoga" hit the nail on the head when he said, "We are treating children as adults much too early. We are taking away their play time and robbing them of laughter."

"They are not developing the social skills they need to deal with social problems and stress. I am not surprised that violence is spreading in schools in India and around the world."

"Think logically about this problem. For thousands of years children have laughed and played their way to adulthood. During laughter and play they learn social skills to deal with social problems and stress and to resolve differences in socially acceptable ways."

"Today, children in cities are expected to behave in adult ways from an early age. They are not given time for natural laughter and play. They no longer have the opportunity to develop social skills and learn to deal with others on how to resolve conflicts in non-violent ways. They are subject to stressful pressure to perform well."

"Laughter reduces stress and provides children with skills to cope with ongoing conflict and stress in their lives. Without these skills stress can build up to intolerable levels, sometimes with tragic results."

"Historically, young children laugh 300 - 500 time per day. This helps them blow off steam and excess energy. If you take that away by keeping them in classrooms, expecting adult behavior and pressuring them for academic excellence then stresses will build up with unhealthy results."

"How can laughter help? Laughter has the power to unwind stress and provide you with the power to strengthen the mind, raise the spirit and mitigate tension...all this in one instant" says Dr. Kataria. "It's no joke that laughter is nature's creative way to keep us healthy and safe."

"The emphasis in schools has become focused on academic skills and study. We need to understand that laughter and play, in free time and during sports are essential parts of growing up with a healthy mental attitude and good social skills, which can be even more important than academic skills in life."

Some years ago Dr Kataria instituted programs to introduce 'laughter exercises' into schools with the objective of bringing more laughter into the lives of the students. Teachers at schools where these programs have been instituted report that students have a much more positive attitude and that absenteeism and disciplinary problems have been reduced.