He who laughs first: The importance of humor to young children

Abstract

Research in the field of humor has expanded considerably in the last fifteen years, helping us to better understand the origins and development of children's humor. Although researchers agree that more remains to be done to understand the developmental process thoroughly, studies have shown that humor interacts with other developmental processes as an important part of early growth. This article reviews the theoretical views currently receiving some acceptance, discusses the interaction of humor with other developmental areas, and suggests ways in which the research can be applied in the early childhood classroom.