How do I raise a funny kid?

[Anonymous]

My theory is that a lot of kids who spend more time with adults are funnier. If they're carrying on adults conversations and watching The Office at age 9 and liking it, they're gonna nail sarcasm while other kids are playing space Legos.

[Anonymous]

Sarcasm is the lowest form of humor. It's the easiest way to be funny, but it's a slippery slope. If they rely on sarcasm, watch out for them being unnecessarily cruel. And when they are adults, it's not an attractive look.

[Anonymous]

Sarcastic people are more intelllegent.

[Anonymous]

Make jokes. Use humor to defuse tense situations, where appropriate. I find doing this gently can really help when one of my kids is in a temper.

Our two kids are both hilarious, including our daughter who may be on the spectrum. Her neuropsych actually mentioned how good it is for her to grow up in a household with lots of joking and humor, because it helps her with rigidity and being literal. She has also developed deadly comic timing, like when she witnessed her grandparents dogs viciously attack each other and all of us were really shaken and speechless. After a pause, she said “well, that’s why we’re cat people.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Inflict psychological trauma and hope that humor is how they cope.

I had a rotten childhood but I’m funny. Didn’t realize it until I was 30, but I can make a crowd laugh and work a room. Downside is I make jokes at inappropriate moments and my humor is on the dark side, so I’m not meant for everyone ...

DD6, an avid pandemic TV watcher, has taken to finding the “comic releef” characters from her favorite shows and writing down funny moments in her journal. I hope that she’ll escape childhood without trauma but COVID will probably turn her into a version of me. An improved version, hopefully.

[Anonymous]

Most comedians suffer from depression.

[Anonymous]

OP, are you sure your kids aren't already funny? My experience is that all kids say and do stuff that is weird and funny. They see the world with fresh eyes and often have no idea what is happening. It's a situation ripe for humor. Have you tried just tuning into your kids and looking for the humor in what they are already doing? I don't mean laughing at them, but using some of that light-heartedness you say you want them to have to approach your interactions with them.

My kids say and do stuff that cracks me up all the time. My daughter will fart super loudly and then hold her hand up in the air and yell "Toooooot!" My son constantly tells stories that he made up with, "Once, when I was a [squirrel/old man/the president/a chef]..." Their minds are delightful. I don't know if they will ever make a living in humor (and don't much care either way), but it feels like the humor is always there, just waiting for me to pick it up and enjoy it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As you've said, a lot of this is ingrown personality.
I think one way to foster this is to seek out books and other media that feature a light-hearted, kind humor. (As opposed to the mean, sarcastic humor at the expense of others that is so often featured.) Peanuts or Calvin and Hobbes. Phantom Tollbooth and other books that use word play. Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (well, I guess that one's a little mean). I'm sure others will have other suggestions.

+ 100. So many TV shows and movies today have sarcasm, even kids’ ones. I was watching a scene from Moana on mute (I’ve never seen the movie) and she’s scowling the entire scene. Why? Smiling is good. Being happy is good.

Also, keep them off social media because there’s a lot of sarcasm and “the world sucks” sentiment on there.

OMG.

Also, I'm trying to think of a scene where Moana is sarcastic, or mean at the expense of someone else, and I can't.

[Anonymous]

Can always pray.
What you ain't got any faith OP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Inflict psychological trauma and hope that humor is how they cope.

The end.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I thinking singing and dancing are different and require some natural talent. I think being a comedian is also a talent. But I think being funny in the sense of appreciating humor and maybe participating a bit can be fostered a bit. I think if I came asking how to encourage kindness and hard work people wouldn’t say just appreciate the lazy asshole you have.

I love and appreciate my kids for who they are. I also believe I can help them develop on certain directions. Maybe it will take, maybe it won’t but doesn’t hurt to try

Dp My dh is a music teacher and he believes while there is natural talent a hard work ethic and good instruction can go a long way. I think the same for dancing. We know people with natural gifts for playing an instrument but, didn't practice and therefore didn't do anything with that talent. That's totally fine but, those who work harder at their talent will go further

I don't know why being funny is so important to you. Can you explain?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As you've said, a lot of this is ingrown personality.
I think one way to foster this is to seek out books and other media that feature a light-hearted, kind humor. (As opposed to the mean, sarcastic humor at the expense of others that is so often featured.) Peanuts or Calvin and Hobbes. Phantom Tollbooth and other books that use word play. Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (well, I guess that one's a little mean). I'm sure others will have other suggestions.

+ 100. So many TV shows and movies today have sarcasm, even kids’ ones. I was watching a scene from Moana on mute (I’ve never seen the movie) and she’s scowling the entire scene. Why? Smiling is good. Being happy is good.

Also, keep them off social media because there’s a lot of sarcasm and “the world sucks” sentiment on there.

OMG.

Also, I'm trying to think of a scene where Moana is sarcastic, or mean at the expense of someone else, and I can't.

DP Do you always smile when things go wrong? She is trying to save her island and her people! They are being cursed and in danger of dying of starvation! Would you smile? Good grief lady watch the movie before you criticize it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s personality, OP. Appreciate the kid you have.

Yup. One of my kids is naturally hilarious. The other one, not so much.

Ditto! And don't overthink it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Inflict psychological trauma and hope that humor is how they cope.

HA. This comment was under-appreciated

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s personality, OP. Appreciate the kid you have.

Yup. One of my kids is naturally hilarious. The other one, not so much.

Ditto! And don't overthink it.

+1

Anything else would be too try hard. Drop the subject, OP.