This week’s newsletter is a quick, but hopefully important reminder that laughter is good for us - a message I think is important right now as we continue to cope with COVID, other illnesses, worldwide events, and limited daylight hours in the middle of winter.

I encourage you to watch the video The Science of Laughter with your son. It is an interview with a Clown Doctor who talks about the science of laughter and why laughing makes us feel good. I have also included a summary, below, of the main reasons laughing is good for us.

Physical reasons laughter is good for us:

1. Laughter helps to release the body’s natural feel good hormones, such as endorphins. Endorphins help to promote overall wellbeing and can even temporarily relieve pain.

2. Laughter relaxes the body, boosts the immune system and protects the heart. Laughter is like a form of cardiac exercise: “Laughing can provide a workout for your cardiovascular, pulmonary and respiratory systems. When you laugh, your diaphragm, chest and abdominal muscles tighten. This makes the lungs work harder by forcing stale air out and allowing fresh air deeper into the lungs”. For more information about this see: Is Laughter good for lung health?

Emotional reasons laughter is good for us:

1. Laughter helps to improve our mood, decrease stress and tension, and strengthens resilience. When we laugh it helps us to focus on the positives, or feel good feelings as mentioned above, rather than a negative mindset we may find ourselves in.

2. Simulated laughing is good for us as well - so even if something isn’t funny, simply laughing itself can help to boost your mood. You might want to try this the next time you notice yourself feeling tense or negative. 

Social reasons laughter is good for us:

1. Laughter brings people together, forming connections and helping us to be less defensive. Whether it be telling a funny story, sharing a joke (even a Dad joke!) or remembering something entertaining that has happened, embrace the opportunity to laugh and see the lighter side of things. Let’s just remember to laugh with each other as much as possible rather than at each other!

2. Laughter, like a smile, is often contagious. Try not smiling at someone who is smiling at you, or not laughing along with someone else when they are laughing - it is almost impossible! Laughter, like smiling, is a great way to connect with other people.

Laughing is good for you in many ways so I encourage you to make the most of this free, easily accessible and positively contagious tool for your wellbeing!!

• This is just a brief summary of the benefits of laughter based on the video included above . For a more comprehensive discussion please see: Laughter is the best medicine

• The video referred to in this newsletter is from Sparklers: Sparklers was developed in response to requests from the education sector for tools to help them support and promote the wellbeing of young Cantabrians. It has a specific page dedicated to supporting parents: Sparklers at Home.

Jenelle Hooson
Jenelle is a Registered Provisional Member with NZAC (New Zealand Association of Counsellors).

If you wish to discuss the services the School Counsellor can provide, please see your son’s homeroom teacher or Scott Johnson: scott.johnson@medbury.school.nz.