How laughter is God’s gift for disciplining your children

Christian parenting has often been on the serious side. As believers we know the consequences of a child going astray and making bad choices in life. It’s no wonder that many Christian parents opt for firm limits for their children. Limits are, of course, a good thing. Limits give children boundaries to help support them to prevent them from sinning, hurting themselves and others. Limits help children feel safe, and, when set in a gentle way, allow them to feel loved.

When it comes to setting gentle but firm limits, laughter is one of the greatest tools in our parenting toolbox. This may sound surprising. Laughter is play and fun, it’s wild and unruly. What could it possibly have to do with times when we want to be serious and get our children to do something, or stop them from doing something?

When my daughter first learnt to crawl, I noticed that one of the first things she did was crawl away from me, laughing as she playfully escaped me. This would often happen last thing at night, when I got her pyjamas out for bed. It was like a trigger for play! I saw how natural play is to a child’s nature and how the kind of play that children love most is power role reversal. Babies, toddlers, and even older children just love it when the parent makes mistakes, get things wrong, or are in a position where the child has the power. A toddler will laugh and laugh if you try to get them dressed and ‘accidentally’ put clothing items on their teddy instead, and then act all confused and realise your ‘mistake.’ They will find it hilarious if you try cleaning their teeth but end up cleaning their nose, ears, or chin, and then keep trying to find the right body part, but constantly make mistakes.