Make More Time for Laughter in a Preschool Setting.

Based on the idea that laughter and humor are basic components of a healthy childhood, this practicum paper emphasizes the concern that preschool programs have become too academic and are creating stress for children. Similarly, adults in preschool settings, pressured by parents and public school academic expectations, have become too serious in their work with children. The goals of the practicum were to create, plan, implement, and evaluate a program that would unite parents, children, and staff in a serious effort to find ways to initiate humor and laughter into the preschool educational experience. Components of the practicum included developing a preschool environment that was more conducive to laughter, giving chidren more flexibility in a less teacher-controlled classroom, helping teachers to be sensitive to humor, encouraging parents to find ways to extend childhood through play and laughter, developing a file of humorous incidents, and developing a list of appropriate children's books that stimulate laughter. Results indicate that (1) the implementation of the program brought a lively environment into the preschool setting; (2) staff members and parents were helped to understand children's humor; (3) young and old were encouraged to use laughter with preschool children; and (4) staff and parents became aware of the age differences in children's humor responses. Following conclusions and recommendations given at the close of the paper, extensive appendices provide sample evaluation instruments, outlines for parent/staff seminars, and a children's book list. (Author/DST)