The Health Benefits of Laughter Are No Joke!

Have you noticed you always seem to feel better after having a good laugh?

Whether you’re laughing at a joke or giggling along to a funny movie, laughing is not only heaps of fun but poses some seriously amazing health benefits.

Laughter has a big impact on kids’ overall wellbeing and development, and the best part is getting these benefits is heaps of fun!

Let’s run through some of the wonderful ways laughter can improve a child’s health and wellbeing, as well as some ways to get a bit of extra laughter in both you and your child’s day.

Benefits of laughter

Reduces stress and boosts immunity
Laughter is a great natural stress reliever, helping to reduce stress causing hormones like cortisol and adrenaline.
Reduced stress can also help a child’s immunity, with laughter helping to boost immune cells in the body. If your child does get sick, their body will be in a better position to fight off any nasty bugs.
Laughter also releases serotonin which helps stabilise your child’s mood and is essential for overall happiness, digestion and even sleep cycles.

Better connections
Children who laugh with friends are not only having a great time, they’re also strengthening relationships with their peers.
Sharing a giggle with a friend creates stronger connections as children bond over a shared sense of humour. It can also assist in developing cooperation skills, helping kids work better in teams.
We all know if one child starts giggling chances are the whole group will be rolling around on the floor shortly after. Laughter truly is contagious and helps kids form stronger friendships with friends, teachers and parents alike.

Relaxes the body
Whether they’re feeling tired, stressed, upset or angry, laughter is a fantastic way for kids to let off steam, especially after a difficult day.
It can stimulate blood flow and help relax the muscles, making it a fun way for kids to shake off some of their stress, so they can go back to their day with a clearer head and a lighter heart.

How to get more laughter in your day
Now we know laughter is amazing for kids’ health, so how can we get more laughter into their day?

Funny Sounds
As part of our new Wellness update, Spacetalk Adventurer now has a Funny Sounds feature designed to get kids laughing and have a lot of fun in the process!
There’s a range of sound effects from animals, musical instruments and even whoopees!
Kids simply tap the image for each sound to hear the sound effect. Kids can even tap several sounds in a row to create their own funny mix that will have them rolling around with tears of laughter.

Play with pets
Pets are such a wonderful source of joy, love and companionship. Whether you have a dog, cat, rabbit, ferret or bird, playing with pets is not only fun, but can be funny too!
Animals have a great way of making everyone laugh, from their funny facial expressions to the way they play.
A little bit of supervised play with pets every day is a great way for kids to have a laugh, get some exercise and bond with pets and family- just another way laughter brings people and pets together.

Get reading
Not only are books a great way to strengthen your child’s reading skills, they’re also an opportunity for a good laugh.
From joke books to hilarious short stories, there are some seriously funny books for kids of all ages.
Reading is a great way to spend some quality time with your child, and chances are you’ll find yourself having a good laugh too!

Keep it kind
This is a great opportunity to teach kids to be positive with their laughter, and that laughing about things people can’t help, such as their appearance, isn’t a nice thing to do. Keeping it kind is vital to make sure everyone can laugh together, not at the expense of others.

Getting some giggles into you and your child’s day will help you connect with others, let go of stress and have a great time in the process- so why not have a little fun!

The wellness features are currently available on Spacetalk devices purchased through the Spacetalk online store and approved retail partners only. Spacetalk is a consumer grade general wellness device, not a certified medical device. Spacetalk wellness features are not intended for medical diagnostics. The information provided in this website or the Spacetalk mobile application is not a substitute for obtaining proper professional care or services. You should seek independent advice from a medical professional as required.