Laughter is good for the soul

Laughter—It’s Good for the Soul

/in /by

 

When was the last time you laughed at yourself? Better question— when was the last time your children laughed at themselves?

Humor is a fundamental item in the world of drama and especially useful in our Drama Kids International programs. Not only is laughter good for the soul, but being able to laugh at yourself also has many practical benefits, including boosting leadership skills and aiding mental and physical health!

According to Lifeway’s Selma Wilson, there are three excellent reasons that leaders should be laughing at themselves: It makes them real, it makes them reachable, and it helps gives others the freedom to laugh at themselves as well.

These three things can also translate for children, especially those who are interested in leadership or performing. Often, those in leadership roles can seem disconnected from the population, but by realizing that laughing at themselves is 100 percent OK, it helps them seem no different than you or me. We are all human, and funny goof-ups happen. Being able to laugh at those is what helps us keep our humanity intact!

Laughter truly can be the best medicine where our physical and mental health is concerned. According to NBC News Better, not taking ourselves too seriously has excellent benefits for mental health. Laughing at yourself is a sign that you’re more resilient and able to handle life when it doesn’t go your way. The news station also referenced a 2009 study by the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore that found how an active sense of humor can help protect against heart attacks and prevent heart disease. Laughing at yourself can also help boost short-term memory and aid in pain management.

According to Lifehack, laughter has nine excellent benefits for our whole person.

Laughter can:

1   Stimulate the full body

2   Make you feel better

3   Increase your immunity

4   Promote heart health

5   Help you stress less

6   Increase connection with others

7   Burn calories

8   Boost mood and confidence

9   Help you get through difficult times

 

At Drama Kids International, we know the value of comedy and laughter and are careful to include it in all facets of our drama programs. We love to laugh and love to see children benefit from the joys of laughter.

Interested in finding out more about how laughter can help your child develop leadership skills and confidence? We’re ready and waiting to discuss it with you, as are any of our Drama Kid International locations!

The Many Benefits of Improv for Children

/in /by

 

“I think we like our phones more than we like actual people.”

Take a moment to let those words sink in, the words of a 13-year-old girl who is growing up in a generation that has never lived without the Internet or without smartphones. A generation that according to Dr. Jean M. Twenge, has developed a far less rebellious side and is more tolerant than its predecessors, yet continues to see a rise in depression. Fortunately, as we’ll point out later on, there are some steps you can take to help limit your teen’s dependency on the smartphone!

It may seem overly dramatic to claim that “smartphones are ruining a generation,” yet we must admit that this “iGen” (children born between 1995 and 2012) dependence on them is concerning. Data shows that almost 70 percent of 11- to 12-year-olds use a mobile phone, with that number increases to nearly 90 percent by age 14. Some 56 percent of children between ages 10 and 13 own a smartphone. It’s pretty much commonplace for an adolescent to have a smartphone, and their screen time remains something that is very concerning.

Twenge points out in her Atlantic article that while iGen kids are physically safer than teens have ever been, they are far more vulnerable than Millennials were for teen depression and suicide. The constant need to be on a smartphone can also have some negative impacts on the health of teenagers, as inactivity can lead to weight gain, loss of sleep due to staying up too late, and even injuries to thumbs or wrists. According to Twenge, all screen time can be linked to less happiness, despite reports that up to six hours a day are safe for teens as long as they are “doing well in school.”

Have you noticed that your teen’s behavior seems to be directly linked to the smartphone that’s an extension of his or her hand? Is your child beginning to show signs of communication struggles or seeming more and more withdrawn?

There are ways to help tone down your teen’s smartphone usage! According to Scary Mommy, there are five specific things you can do to tone down your kids’ dependence: limiting daily use, keeping the phone nearby so they can’t hide away in their bedroom with it, taking their phone with you at bedtime, dangling the smartphone “like a carrot” whenever you can and always knowing the password to unlock the phone!

Remember that Drama Kids International has programs especially tailored to tap into your teen’s communication skills and encourages healthy self-esteem and self-confidence in all who participate! Reach out to your local Drama Kids and see what we can offer your child!