Kindermusik Our Time: FIDDLE-DEE-DEE – WEEK 8
What a “kick” I got today from the children’s responses to Bazoo, Bazoo, Butz as they bounced, bumped, kicked and giggled! We all enjoy laughing, but did you know that laughing is good for you?
“Laughter increases white blood cell activity and changes the chemical balance of the blood. This is believed to boost the body’s production of chemicals needed for alertness and memory. Laughter reduces stress, and low stress enhances the brain’s receptivity to learning. According to researchers, laughing (having fun) also boosts the body’s immune system for three days – the day of the fun and the next two.”*
*Start Smart!: Building Brain Power in the Early Years, by Pam Schiller
Here’s a fun Mother Goose rhyme to make you laugh: It take two to make this really funny. The first person knows the joke and states the first part, the second person just repeats “I’m a ____ key”. As they begin to realize they’ve just called themselves a donkey, it is fun to sound out “Hee-haw, hee-haw”
I’m a gold lock – – – I’m a gold key
I’m a silver lock – – – I’m a silver key
I’m a brass lock – – – I’m a brass key
I’m a don lock – – – I’m a don-key HEE-HAW HEE-HAW
Believe it or not, there have been studies that show laughter does many thingsl
· It can strengthen the immune system, possibly increasing antibodies and disease fighting cells.
· It increases endorphins, the body’s natural painkiller, thus increasing pain tolerance. · It gives you a mini workout by increasing your heart and respiration rates, as well as blood pressure. Experts say a hearty one minute laugh is equal to approximately 10 minutes on a rowing machine.
· It works certain facial and abdominal muscles. This is especially useful for people who have neuralgia or rheumatism. · It helps people with certain kinds of respiratory illnesses by increasing their ventilation and clearing mucus.
· It reduces the incidence of arterial blockage, angioplasties and heart attacks. It is said that children laugh approximately 400 times a day, while adults laugh 15 times. The older we get the more responsibilities we have and thus the more stress. Things that were funny then don’t seem that way now. But it’s OK to laugh. A good belly laugh will work the abdominal muscles, massage your internal organs, improve the blood supply to the intestines and help the bowels move properly. So next time you are feeling stressed, try something positive, like an old-fashioned belly laugh.
Enjoy a few laughs together with your child this week!