Have you ever wondered if making a silly joke or doing a silly impression can actually make you a better parent? It turns out, maybe! A new study published in PLOS One shows that humor can not only strengthen parent-child relationships, but also make parenting strategies more effective. This is one of the first studies to seriously consider how humor can be used as an educational tool. (Also read: The hidden impact of toxic parenting: How growing up with abusive parents affects children’s lives and mental health )
For years, parenting experts have focused on structure, consistency, and discipline. But what if adding a little laughter to the mix could help relieve stress and ease the difficult moments of parenting? Looks like it’s time to embrace the dad jokes!
How humor can increase cognitive flexibility
Previous research has shown that humor can improve cognitive flexibility, which is the ability to adapt to new situations and come up with creative solutions. Researchers at the Penn State College of Medicine, led by Lucy Emery, wondered if this skill might be especially useful in parenting, where unexpected challenges are common.
Benjamin Levy, professor of pediatrics and humanities at Penn State and senior author of the study, shared, “Humor can help people develop cognitive flexibility, relieve stress, and encourage creative problem-solving and resilience. My father used humor effectively, and I do the same with my children and in my clinical practice. The real question is: How do we use humor in a constructive way?’
Previous research shows that humor increases cognitive flexibility, helping people adapt and find creative solutions. Researchers from Pennsylvania State, led by Lucy Emery, investigated whether this could be useful in raising children who often have problems. Benjamin Levy, a professor at Penn State, explained: “Humor promotes flexibility, reduces stress and encourages problem solving. I use humor with my children and in practice. The main thing is to use it constructively.”
What makes humor such a powerful tool?
According to researchers, it has several benefits: it can defuse tense moments, teach problem-solving skills, and create joyful bonds between parents and children. Imagine this: parents jokingly imitate a child’s tantrum, catching him by surprise and turning his tears into giggles. “There’s a striking similarity between parenting and business—they’re both hierarchical,” said Lucy Emery, a former Penn State medical student and now a pediatrics intern at Boston Children’s Hospital.
“In business, humor breaks down hierarchies, encourages teamwork and relieves tension. Obviously, parenting is more about love, but it can still be stressful. Humor can smooth over those difficult moments, make interactions more equal, and make everyone feel better.”
While the results are certainly encouraging, the study has several limitations. For starters, the sample wasn’t exactly diverse—the majority of participants were white (77%) and male (64%). Humor is subjective, so people can interpret survey questions differently. However, the research still opens up some exciting possibilities. Almost 70% of participants said that they would be interested in a parenting class that focuses on the effective use of humor. Researchers believe that such courses can help parents avoid harsh discipline and build more positive bonds with their children.
“My hope is that parents can learn to use humor not only to relieve stress, but also to increase resilience and emotional flexibility — for themselves and their children,” Levy added.
