Go Ahead…Play an April Fool’s Joke

By Sarah F.

Some family traditions are heartwarming. Others are just plain fun — like tricking Dad on April Fools’ Day. Practical jokes are especially perfect for a preschooler, since she can simply watch them unfold, without needing to “get” a complicated punch line. They’re even healthy for her development, says Robert R. Provine, Ph.D., author of Laughter: A Scientific Investigation. By turning the everyday on its head, your child’s reminded of what’s predictable in life. Some ways to be in cahoots with your kid:

Breakfast buffoonery – Let your kid add a bit of food coloring to milk, then watch her try to restrain herself when Dad pours it on his cereal.

Grooming giggles – Cover the bathroom mirror with plastic wrap — then make sure your child is there to see the befuddled look on Dad’s face.

Bathroom humor – Preschoolers think anything potty-related is absolutely hysterical. Go with it: Have your kid tell Dad the toilet’s broken (as long as you’re okay with him elaborating that “there’s poop everywhere!”).

Information was obtained from http://www.parenting.com/article/toddlers-and-practical-jokes

Originally published by Sarah Freymoyer and the Philly Burb Moms team on April 1, 2011.