Silly jokes could help make your child smart

Silly jokes could help make your child smart

FPJ BureauUpdated: Friday, May 31, 2019, 11:39 PM IST
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Father bonding with his toddler son in a garden |

London: Children as young as 16 months old learn important life skills from jokes and pretend play of parents, says a new study, reports IANS. “The study shows just how important play is to children’s development. Parents who pretend and joke with their children offer cues to distinguish the difference between the two and toddlers take advantage of these cues to perform,” said one of the researchers Elena Hoicka from the University of Sheffield in Britain. “Knowing how to joke is good for maintaining relationships, thinking outside the box, and enjoying life. Pretending helps children to practice new skills and learn new information,” she said. “So while parents may feel a bit daft putting a toy chicken on their head they can at least console themselves with the knowledge that they are helping their children develop important skills for life,”  Hoicka noted. The researchers carried out two studies; one involved parents being asked to joke and pretend with their 16 to 20 month old children using actions.  Jokes involved misusing objects like putting food on head and pretend play included  washing hands without soap or water.

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