If you’re feeling down, laughter really could be the best medicine. So, I’m going to share with you, three laughter-related mindfulness activities for you to add to your day. You’ll want to try the Laughter Song for some great fun at circle time. The laughing meditation is a great way to introduce kids to meditation if they’ve never done it before. And, if you only do one of the activities, you have to try the laugh chain. But, any activity you choose is sure to put a smile on your face and in your heart.
Benefits of laughing
Laughter has so many benefits for the mind and body. I listed some for you that I found online at The Laughter Online University. Yes, there is even a Laughter University, who knew?! There’s so much more information over there about laughing and laughter activities, check it out if you’re interested.
And, if you’re a science geek, like me, you’ll want to check out the infographic at The Laughter Online University that shows the biological pathways that laughter travels through in the body to produce all these happy benefits.
Here are some of the benefits of laughing:
• PHYSICAL HEALTH- provides low impact exercise, regulates blood pressure, reduces pain, increases oxygen, boosts the immune system
• MENTAL HEALTH- helps to think more clearly, breaks cycles of negative thinking, stress management
• EMOTIONAL HEALTH- helps depression and anxiety, helps boost happiness and joy
• SOCIAL HEALTH- improves cooperation, communication, and empathy, improves connection
• SPIRITUAL HEALTH- inner harmony, joy, and peace
But, I really don’t need to tell you that laughing makes you feel happy. You already know that so, let’s get right into the laughing activities.
activity # 1- Laughter song
Here’s a song you can sing to the tune of BINGO.
- There was a boy who liked to laugh ‘cause laughing is such fun-oh, ha ha hahaha, ha ha hahaha, ha ha hahaha 'cause laughing is such fun-oh.
- There was a girl who liked to giggle ‘cause giggling is such fun-oh, he he hehehe, he he hehehe, he he hehehe 'cause giggling is such fun-oh
- There was a baby who liked to laugh 'cause laughing is such fun-oh, tee-hee heeheehee, tee-hee heeheehee, tee-hee heeheehee 'cause laughing is such fun-oh.
- There was a vilan who liked to laugh 'cause laughing is such fun-oh, mwaa ha hahaha, mwaa ha hahaha, mwaa ha hahaha 'cause laughing is such fun-oh
- There was a santa who liked to chortle 'cause chortling is such fun-oh, ho ho hohoho, ho ho hohoho, ho ho hohoho 'cause chortling is such fun-oh.
Now, I am certainly not a song-writer, so I hope you’re inspired to write your own song about laughter.
Use a familiar tune like “BINGO”, “Row, Row, Row, Your Boat”, or another classroom favorite, and use circle time to brainstorm your new “laughing lyrics”.
I created a worksheet for writing your own “Laughter Song” and included it in the Laughing Meditation Activity Packet. I added the packet to The Mindfulness Library for you.
activity #2- LAUGHING MEDITATION
Laughing meditation, like other meditation practices, will help with slowing down and noticing the present moment. The main focus of laughing meditation is to laugh, unlike other meditations that focus on objects or visualizations. So, your kids can notice what is going on in their body and mind as they laugh. For example, what happens on your face, in your stomach, or to your arms when you laugh? What thoughts are coming and going?
Laughing meditation releases all the same feel good chemicals that laughing produces, so it helps boost mood and positivity, and can decrease depression and stress. It also serves as an emotional release. Emotions aren’t supposed to be bottled up and laughter is a fun, creative way to let go.
Remember, you know your kids best, so tweak the steps and the script so that laughing meditation works best for your kids.
Steps for Laughter Meditation
- Laughter is like exercise, so start with a warmup. Stand tall with your feet slightly apart. Reach up to the sky and feel a nice tall stretch. You can do some gentle twists and/or a forward fold. Do whatever feels good. Once you feel a bit loose, have a seat on the floor.
- Next, warm up your face and mouth. Gently massage your forehead, move down to your cheeks, and then your jaw. Open your mouth a few times to relax the muscles and loosen it up.
- When you feel like you are warmed up, get comfortable and relaxed. Start to smile.
- Have a leader say ha, ha, ha and have your kids repeat. Then say it again and have your kids repeat until they start laughing on their own. It will probably feel forced at first and that’s fine. Just keep going until everyone is laughing naturally, it won’t take long. Let them laugh for a bit.
- Then, have them get silent and turn inward. You can have them take a deep breath to settle in. Then, ask them to notice what they feel in their body, what thoughts have popped into their mind, and if they are feeling any emotions.
- You can have them draw a picture of their experience or make a journal entry for a deeper understanding of their experience.
For more details about Laughing Meditation, including the script, fun variations, and follow-up activities, head over to The Mindfulness Library.
RELATED- Growing Kindness- A Moving Kindness Meditation
activity #3- LAUGH CHAIN
The laugh chain was an activity that I did in school when I was studying mind-body medicine. I remember it so well, because it was so much fun. It really left a lasting impression. You’ll definitely want to give this one a go.
- Start with one child lying on the ground on their back. Child #2 lays perpendicular with their head on the belly of the first child. Then, child #3 lays perpendicular to child #2 and puts their head on child #2’s belly and so on until all the kids are lying down in the “laugh chain”. I put a diagram in The Mindfulness Library for you. You’ll want to be strategic about when you start the laugh chain so you don’t run out of room.
- Starting with child #1, instruct them to let out a powerful (but not yelling) ha, ha, ha. The contraction of child #1’s stomach muscles will cause child #2’s head to bob up and down, completely funny in itself. Then, child #2 let’s out a ha, ha, ha. Then, child # 3 and so on until it has gone through the entire laugh chain.
RELATED- WALKING MEDITATION- 6 WAYS TO TRY IT
Vocalizing ha, ha, ha and the head bobbing together are the perfect ingredients for some fun, rowdy laughter on the floor. I’m telling you, you’re going to love it.
So, let me know in the comments how far your kids got. Were they able to get to the end of the line before total laughter broke out? Did you try it with them? Didn’t you love it?
I put detailed instructions and a diagram in the Laughing Meditation Activity Packet for you. You can grab it in the Mindfulness Library.
Do you have activities that you use with your kids to lighten the mood? We would all love for you to share. Comment below and let us know what you are doing.
~Dawn
Are you aware of the spelling error on this page? I am not trying to be rude, I would want to know that there was an error with my work. The main part that says “How to do a Laughter Meditation,” actually has the “H” left out of “Laughter.” It’s right under the yellow box which reads, “Laughter is the best medicine.” Just thought I’d let you know. 🙂
Thanks for the great information!!!
Corrected! Thanks so much-