How Dad Jokes Could Help Build Better Relationships with Kids
Have you ever wondered when a regular joke becomes a dad joke? The answer is simple: as soon as it’s apparent. Dad jokes, known for their hokey puns and cheesy wordplay, are a common feature of fatherly humor that often elicits groans and eye rolls.
But according to a new study, the use of humor, including dad jokes, in parenting could actually help parents – whether they are moms, dads, or guardians – build better relationships with their children.
Despite the prevalence of humor in human social life, there has been limited scientific research on the role of humor in parenting. This oversight is what prompted researchers to delve into this topic.
Senior author Benjamin Levi, a pediatrician at Penn State College of Medicine, emphasizes the benefits of humor in parenting. He notes that humor can teach cognitive flexibility, relieve stress, and promote creative problem-solving and resilience.
Reflecting on his own experience, Levi highlights the effectiveness of humor in building relationships, both in his clinical practice and with his own children. This led him to explore how humor can be constructively used in parenting.
First author Lucy Emery, a pediatrics resident at Boston Children’s Hospital, draws parallels between the hierarchical dynamics of business and parenting. She suggests that humor can help diffuse tension and hierarchy in stressful parenting situations, allowing both parties to feel better.
To address the lack of research on humor in parenting, Emery and her colleagues conducted a pilot study to gather insights on people’s views and experiences with humor in parenting. The study aimed to lay the groundwork for future research on how parents can use humor constructively.
The survey included 312 respondents, primarily male and White, aged 18 to 45. The majority of respondents reported being parented with humor, believing in the effectiveness of humor as a parenting technique, and planning to use humor with their own children.
Participants who had a good relationship with their parents were more likely to report that their parents had used humor in raising them. They were also more inclined to use humor in parenting their own children. This correlation highlights the potential impact of humor on parent-child relationships.
The study provides preliminary evidence that humor can be a valuable tool in parenting, fostering positive outcomes for both parents and children. Future research should explore the nuances of humor in parenting and its influence on child development.
Levi hopes that parents can learn to leverage humor as an effective parenting tool, fostering resilience and cognitive flexibility in themselves and modeling it for their children.
The study was published in PLOS One, offering valuable insights into the role of humor in parenting.
