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Comedy or Immaturity?
How and Why Boys Use Humor to Communicate
By Gina Roberts-Grey
In her Knowledge Essential Series, author Amy James backs up Kozinstev's findings. James explains that gender does play a significant role in how our children think. "This applies to how children use, respond to and process humor," she says.
Our sons combine a mixture of verbal, physical and even subliminal humor to entertain, show off and connect with their parents, families, classmates and friends. Prodding pals to have a burping contest in the school cafeteria or making a sibling chuckle at the dinner table reinforces a boy's place in his social circle. Being told "You're so funny" by the girl sitting next to him in social studies lets your son know he's successfully garnered her attention. Hearing "That's so gross" on the playground tells your son he's accepted by his peers. Making you laugh by wearing his jacket inside out or his backpack on his head as he enters the door reaffirms your acceptance and love.
So how can you ensure your son strikes a harmonious balance of self-confidence, building humor and your expected level of personal restraint? Knowing that your son subconsciously relies on the power he believes humor possesses will help you understand how and why he employs humor when communicating. Identifying what type of humor characteristics your son typically displays is the first step to fostering his ability to time his well-placed humor:
Many toddlers and preschoolers find continually discussing bathroom topics and bodily functions absolutely hysterical. Although this may be semi-cute or tolerable from a 3-year-old, many parents find it perplexing when their 9- or 12-year-old reverts back to this stage. Discussing or dissecting the sizes, shapes, colors and odors of bathroom event is widely popular among young boys. Trying to be the one who has the most disgusting story to tell or the one with the funniest outcome equates to catching the biggest fish or being able to run the fastest.