Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #430831 in Books
• Published on: 2002-02
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

From Library Journal
Centenarians often claim that "a sense of humor" contributed to their long lives. People who can laugh can also better endure life's ups and downs, find pleasure, cope with stress, and make life fun for those around them. Developing a sense of humor in kids takes effort, says clinical psychologist Franzini, but it's worth it. Describing how essential it is to nurture a sense of humor, Franzini gives specifics on what's amusing to infants, preschoolers, and older children. Peek-a-boo, for example, is great fun for infants, while second graders think the forbidden (e.g., the word underwear) is hilarious. The author distinguishes between hurtful and healthy humor, and he shows how to use humor in the classroom (while discouraging class clowns). Franzini has served as the president of Laughmasters and Toastmasters International Club. His is a thorough and convincing book. Perhaps readers obsessed with getting their child into the right preschool or moving up the social ladder will take a second look at their priorities. Linda Beck, Indian Valley P.L., Telford, PA
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Customer Reviews

Kids Who Laugh is Refreshing and Helpful to Practitioners
This book is a refreshing tale about the importance of developing a child's sense of humor. Dr. Franzini breaks down humor and explains what is funny to children at various ages. He highlights all of the benefits of humor. This book uses sound research to validate claims about the health, emotional, and social benefits of laughter. It is refreshing to see an expert who understands how humor can help children cope with a variety of stressful situations, such as teasing and bullying, as well as to deepen friendships. I also appreciated the practical ideas and strategies an educator can use to apply these techniques in a school or clinical setting. Plus, he is funny! And isn't that the most important trait after all?

Our Pummeled Kids
Our world is ravaged by conflict and our kids are bombarded with stress. Parents are completely frazzled. Dr. Franzini's book is a wonderful antidote to all the stress because it addresses those quiet, marvelous moments we all share with the children in our lives--moments when you catch your breath and think, wow, surely there is hope for this tattered world after all. Humor serves as our deep connection to each other and if we can instill the ability to appreciate humor in our kids, we certainly must. This book will help everyone!

Humor - A Learned Behavior
This book has information anybody can use. Even if your children are grown or you've retired from teaching. You probably have nephews, nieces, grand kids or neighbor kids.
Incidentally, it's never too late to learn.

This is an interesting, easy to read, informative book. Positive and full of good ideas. It dispels for once and for all the myth that some of us are born with a sense of humor and some are not. The author shows that this is not true. Everybody, especially kids, can learn to develop, and use, their sense of humor. Great examples and practices as well as interesting websites are chronicled. Exceptional children are also taken into consideration. As the author says, "exceptional kids like to laugh too." Don't we all.