Laughter is more than just fun - it may be key to healthy brain development in children, according to early childhood expert Dr. Jacqueline Harding of Middlesex University in London.
In her book, "The Brain That Loves to Laugh," Harding explains that joy helps children navigate stress and build resilient, receptive minds.
Laughter activates broad brain networks, including motor regions and the prefrontal cortex, acting as a "mental workout." It reduces stress hormones like cortisol and epinephrine while boosting dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins.
Prolonged stress has the opposite effect, impairing learning, suppressing immune function, and altering the developing limbic system.
Harding encourages parents to foster spontaneous play, which strengthens emotional regulation and deepens parent-child bonds through increased oxytocin.
She also advocates for integrating humor into classrooms, saying joy creates an optimal environment for learning.