You probably have heard the old saying, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” The same adage applies to laughter and play!

As a caregiver, you know the importance of laughter and play for children; but as an adult, you may forget that what laughter and play do for your own well-being. As Norman Cousins once said, “Laughter is inner jogging.”

It is just as important to get your “inner” exercise as it is to get aerobic exercise for your body. Laughter and play relieve stress. Laughter causes you to look younger--it takes more wrinkles in your face to make a frown than when you are laughing. Laughter is an antidote for a multitude of ills, and research has shown that laughter is a natural painkiller!

“A sense of humor is good for you. Have you ever heard of a laughing hyena with heart burn?” - Bob Hope

Your daily routine should include time for laughter and play. Think about the last time you laughed out loud. What were you doing? Whom were you laughing with? What memories do you have from childhood that make you laugh?

Studies have shown that just putting on a smile or “faking it” can actually improve your mood. It is all about attitude. You can tell yourself a “good time” story or a “bad time” story, and this can make all the difference in your attitude toward life and your health.

Health and fitness professionals are interested in physical fitness levels. But what about play fitness levels? And Play Quotient (PQ) is just as important as Intelligence Quotient (IQ). Play is a wonderful stress reliever.

You may sometimes wish you could return to the whimsical days of childhood when you could play all day just like the children in your care. While you cannot play all day, you do have some choices and you can integrate play with your adult obligations. Play can become a part of your daily life in addition to work, school, family and other responsibilities.

For example, when you play with a child, you are transported into his or her magical world of make believe; and when you play a game or sing a song, you can retain information better because you are more relaxed and free from care.

Benefits of Laughter

Medical research shows that laughter can be helpful in healing and in preventing stress. Some studies show that laughter:

• Increases in the number and activity level of natural killer cells that attack viral infected cells and some types of cancer and tumor cells.
• Increase activated T cells (T lymphocytes) and gamma interferon which help the immune system.
• Increases the antibody IgA (immunoglobulin A) which fights upper respiratory tract infections.

Laughter also decreases blood pressure as well as stress hormones that constrict blood vessels and suppress immune activity. And if you exercise, laughter can help because it is aerobic, providing a workout for the diaphragm and increasing the body’s ability to use oxygen. Do you want to increase brain function? Then laugh!

There are many ways to bring more laughter and play into daily life.

• Break out in a song or dance, even if you do not have rhythm! There is nothing better than singing or dancing to bring on laughter and play.
• For movie buffs, watch a comedy.
• Keep a list of funny quotes near by. When you feel down, read several until you start laughing.
• Read your favorite comics in the daily newspaper or on the Internet.
• Tell yourself a “good time” story. Bring up pleasant memories of laughter and play from your past--take an instant “vacation” in your mind.
• Do something spontaneous and silly with someone you love.
• Watch how good your children are at laughter and play… and emulate them!

So, after playing with the children in your care during the day, remember to include laughter and play for yourself--it can be better than that apple a day for your health!

Cynthia Pearson, M.S.
Child Care Health Consultant

Help Guide, www.helpguide.org/life/humor_laughter_health.htm

Cool Nurse, www.coolnurse.com/stress_laugh.htm

News Target, www.newstarget.com/007551.html

Self Growth, www.selfgrowth.com/articles/Stewart31.html