Want to tickle your tot's funny bone? Tell him it's raining noodles or put the puzzle box in the refrigerator. But don't tell him why the chicken crossed the road - you'll just get a blank stare.
Most toddlers aren't capable of abstract thought, which is necessary to anticipate and appreciate a sophisticated punch line, according to Joseph F. Hagan, M.D., a pediatrician in South Burlington, Vt. So they revel in the silly. To wit:Slapstick: A toddler's motor-skill successes and blunders are a great source of amusement. That's why he gets a kick out of knocking down a pile of blocks, being chased by the tickle monster, walking with exaggerated strides, and falling down (unless, of course, it hurts). Grown-up high jinks also make him giggle: too-big-for-the-trike Dad riding it anyway - backward; Uncle Scott pretending to bonk his head.
Verbal Funnies: A toddler can distinguish between babbling and real language, so he delights in oral nonsense, such as a serenade of "Oodley, doodley, I love youdley," zany mispronunciations (wookie for cookie), baby talk (do-do-dada and mulamama), and funny voices. Tell a tot there's a turkey with an umbrella on the roof, and you'll have him rolling on the floor.
Innocent Perversions: Because they're just beginning to understand how the world works, very young kids delight in deviations from the norm - a spade in a salad bowl, pancakes with raisins for eyes, nose, and mouth.
Repeat Performances: If it gets a laugh once, chances are it'll get a laugh a dozen times: "Knowing what to anticipate gives a young child a sense of being in charge," explains Jacqueline Haines, the executive director at the Gessell Institute of Human Development, in New Haven, Conn. So even if your antics start to bore you, put on a happy face and indulge your child.
Make-Believe Mirth: Imaginative play, such as gobbling down a pretend apple pie or pantomiming a gorilla's walk, induces pint-size hilarity as well.
Because humor is a great distraction, a tuned-in parent can use it to lend levity to potentially tense situations. If a toddler refuses to get dressed, for example, putting mittens on his toes might change his mood and inspire cooperation. Likewise, an ice-cream cone dropped on the ground could be disastrous or hilarious, depending on the cues the toddler picks up from Mom or Dad. Instead of offering sympathy or expressing frustration as you mop it up, pretend that the ice cream is as hot as a baked potato - then be sure to offer another cone. Don't joke about sensitive issues - a speech impediment or body part. That may provoke insecurities and sabotage self-esteem.
"Humor is a wonderful way to communicate love," adds Haines. So the next time your 2-year-old wants you to wiggle-walk backward, remember - in all seriousness - it's important to have some fun.
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