We have an unspoken rule in our house, “If it’s funny, you’re not in trouble.” My kids seem to know that if they can make me laugh, my anger seems to diffuse. It’s a win-win because when my kids are funny and creative enough, it makes me feel like I’ve done something right.
Humor was always part of my life growing up. Some might say it was my compensatory strategy. As far as compensatory strategies go, it’s not the worst one to have. As I grew up it served me well. I could always see a different, funny perspective, make my glass half full, and laugh at myself when I made a mistake. In short, I never took life too seriously.
Research shows that humor increases the immune system and safeguards against depression, lowers stress, and even aids in better digestion. People with a developed sense of humor are happier, more resilient, and smarter than their non-humorous counterparts.
As I grew up, a sense of humor helped me through those early days of parenting just, as it’s helped me through every challenge I’ve faced in my life—I liked it so much, I decided to make it my job and become a comedian. However, you don’t need to do it professionally to reap the benefits of a good guffaw.
Kids model your behavior, if they see you approaching life with ease and not taking things or yourself too seriously there’s a higher chance they will do the same. If it doesn’t come naturally, that’s ok. Here are some steps to making it happen:
1. Be a humor model. Let your kids see you using laughter as a way to deal with the harder things in life. Try to find the bright side or the learning in your challenges.
2. Use laughter as a way to connect. Tell jokes, use wordplay, and slapstick humor. When your kids are upset, find a way to make a joke or at least make them smile. Play funny games with your kids to build connection and trust.
3. Surround them with humor from an early age. Age-appropriate joke books, movies, and songs. Encourage your kids to write their own jokes and always laugh loudly! Encourage them to read about funny people and watch funny shows. When they do laugh, ask them what was funny about it so they can begin to understand how to craft a joke.
A good sense of humor is just one of the tools I want to give my kids for mastery of their life. All I can do is model.
Andrea Levoff is a writer, comedian, and self-proclaimed ‘Dope Ass Mom.’ With a MA in Spiritual Psychology, Levoff combines her passion for inner transformation with her love of comedy in order to empower women to break free from social constraints, judgment, and to find more joy and authenticity in motherhood.
The year 2020 has brought us to a bittersweet holiday season. The global pandemic prevents us from gathering with loved ones, and yet these hardships show us, now more than ever, how important we are to each other.
Fortunately, we have access to technology that allows us to communicate with family and friends when we can’t be together. Here we offer four of the most accessible and versatile tech tools for connecting with others during the winter holidays and beyond. And some of them can be found in your pocket!
1. Shake Up Your Video Calls
You’re probably already experienced with using video tools like Zoom or FaceTime to communicate with family and friends. It’s time to get creative and add a new venue to your calls.
Take it outdoors. Plan a family walk where everyone in your extended family logs into a video call from their favorite park or scenic location. Take a moment to share each of your views and then switch to audio-only as you all take in some fresh air and exercise.
Get in the kitchen. Schedule a family video call during dinner prep or while each of you prepares a special family recipe. If one member of the family is known for their cooking expertise, have them lead the session, just like your favorite Food Network shows.
2. Send Funny Texts
If you own a smartphone, you probably already have some experience sending funny and random texts to friends and family. You can take your texting to the next level by adding some friendly competition.
Text a family holiday scavenger hunt. Make a shortlist of funny, pretty, or interesting things to look for around the house or in the neighborhood. Send out the list to family members via text and you’re off! First-person or team to text a photo of every item on the list wins. Sample items might include:
Lighted candles visible through a window
A wreath on a door made with real branches
Holiday lights that look like icicles
A bigger-than-life inflatable Santa
3. Play Intergenerational Games
Many digital games allow participants to play from any location. Look for intergenerational games that can be enjoyed by children and adults. UNO is a popular card game that can be played online or through an app. Checkers and backgammon are other classic game options.
The game of chess is hot these days, due to the popularity of the Netflix miniseries The Queen’s Gambit. Your family may enjoy playing digital chess via a website or app.
Family members in different locations can visit Britannica.com and take a trivia quiz together. Connect via an audio or video call and then either share a screen or click on the same quiz and read the questions out loud. Take turns picking favorite topics such as sports, travel, or history.
4. Create Personalized eCards
Many popular eCard sites like Hallmark, Blue Mountain, or American Greetings offer the option of uploading a photo to add to the card. Instead of a family photo (or in addition to), you could send an image of your child’s artwork. Invite your child to create a special work of art to share with family, take a digital photo with your phone, and upload the image to the eCard. The novelty of sending a child’s original artwork will please both the little artist and the recipients.
And finally, websites like Jib Jab and Elf Yourself offer fun and silly options for family eCards. These sites allow you to upload images of family members’ faces to create one-of-a-kind animated videos.
We’re living in a time when it’s nearly impossible to distinguish fact from fiction. Parents need information they trust to help them make good decisions about raising their curious learners. Britannica for Parents provides safe and credible resources to empower all kids and parents and inspire curiosity for generations to come.
Our new series, Tiny Birth Stories, is aimed at sharing real-life stories from our readers to our readers. In just 100 words or less, we’re bringing you the raw, the funny and the heartwarming stories that make your child’s birth special.
We welcome all parenting perspectives (read: adoptive and foster birth stories about your children are welcome, too), as long as they are 100 words or less.
Your little one is probably always asking, “Why?” Now preschoolers and their families can take a trip to Animal Town with the premiere of the newest PBS KIDS series, Elinor Wonders Why. The new animated show premieres Sept. 7 on PBS stations, the PBS KIDS 24/7 channel and PBS KIDS digital platforms.
Elinor Wonders Why encourages children to follow their curiosity, ask questions, figure out the answers, and learn about the natural world around them using their science inquiry skills. The multiplatform series, created by celebrated cartoonist and robotics engineer, Jorge Cham, and physicist and educator, Daniel Whiteson, produced in partnership with Pipeline Studios.
In the upcoming premiere, Elinor, the most curious and observant bunny rabbit in Animal Town, plays hide-and-go-seek with her friends and finds out how animals hide in nature; investigates a strange nighttime sound made by an owl and realizes many fascinating creatures are doing interesting things at night; makes “Backyard Soup” with vegetables from her family’s garden; and sells lots of cupcakes by learning how flowers attract bees, through color and smell, and applying those concepts to baking.
“We’re so excited to invite audiences nationwide into the fascinating world of Animal Town and introduce them to Elinor and her friends as they ask questions and explore the remarkable ways that our everyday lives are connected to nature,” said Linda Simensky, Head of PBS KIDS Content, PBS. “Kids learn best when their parents and caretakers are engaged in their learning. Elinor Wonders Why will spark preschoolers’ curiosity with an innovative science inquiry curriculum and will encourage the adults in children’s lives to help them answer their questions by exploring together.”
“Elinor Wonders Why helps give parents the confidence to say, ‘I don’t know the answer. Let’s explore it together,’” said Whiteson. “Asking questions and investigating the answer are at the core of scientific discovery, and we designed the series to model and encourage children, parents and educators to do just that together.”
“Much like my own daughter, Elinor, who inspired the series’ main character, kids everywhere love to wonder about things around them and find out the answers,” said Cham. “Our hope is that the show will help foster the natural curiosity of young children and make them want to explore and learn, just like Elinor and her friends do in these stories.”
Developed for children ages 3-5, Elinor Wonders Why centers on the adventures of Elinor and her pals, Ari, a funny and imaginative bat; and Olive, a perceptive and warm elephant. As young viewers explore Animal Town along with Elinor, Ari and Olive, they will meet all kinds of interesting, funny, and quirky characters, each with a lesson to share about respecting others, the importance of diversity, caring for the environment and working together to solve problems. Elinor models the foundational practices of science inquiry and engineering design in each episode, using her amazing powers of observation and willingness to ask questions. When she encounters something she doesn’t understand, like why birds have feathers or how tiny ants build massive anthills, she perseveres until she figures it out. In discovering the answers, Elinor often learns something about nature’s ingenious inventions and how they can relate to aspects of our designed world, as well as what it takes to live in a community.
Elinor Wonders Why will offer digital content for kids, parents and teachers, also debuting in September 2020. Elinor Wonders Why games will be available on pbskids.org and on the free PBS KIDS Games App, along with clips and full episodes streaming across PBS KIDS’ video platforms, including the free PBS KIDS Video App. Parent resources, including tips and hands-on activities to extend the learning at home, will be available on the PBS KIDS for Parents site, and PBS LearningMedia will offer classroom-ready materials for teachers, including video excerpts, games, teaching tips and printable activities.
Adele Beiny of Life’s Looking Good and her ex-husband, Owen, are open and honest about how they learned to co-parent, co-exist, and be the best teammates possible for their daughter. Below are their top tips for helping others navigate these seemingly unchartered waters, how they’ve managed to stay friends and co-parent with minimal pain points and conflict.
1. Adapt to dual roles.You will move from being either a full-time mom or full-time dad to being both mom and dad some of the time. This can create insecurities. Am I doing this right? Is my ex judging me? View your ex as your consultant on how to best perform the new role. Talk about it. Ask for tips and suggestions. Make your ex your ally. This isn’t a competition for “Best Parent.” It’s about what is best for the child.
2. Get couples therapy for uncoupling.Owen and I stayed in therapy for over a year-and-a-half…long after we knew the marriage was over. We learned things such as: how to communicate without attacking, how to de-escalate when one of you is triggered, etc. Your ex will always be the parent of your child. It’s worth the money.
3. Learn to eat humble pie.The better you get at this, the better the two of you will get along. Apologize more. Be “the bigger one”, even when your ego is bruised, and even if you’re still hurt and angry and the stakes are high. This allows things to get unstuck. This doesn’t make you a push-over, it makes you an advocate for peace.
4. Keep it light. Divorce can be hard, messy, sad, and painful. But, darn it, it can also be funny if you lighten up a bit. Send in the clowns! Try to find the funny parts. Joke with your ex and remember the funny times. Really, this isn’t the end of the world. At some point, a lot of this will be behind you. It may seem like all pain now, but you will laugh again if you allow yourself.
5. Remember what made you fall in love.This may sound cliche, but it helps. It truly helps. Think about it. Go deeper. Think about the good times you shared, like your vows, the honeymoon, the birth of your children. Draw on some of these positive feelings when you can’t seem to move past an argument or particularly sticky point. It will help you view your ex as a human—not the enemy.
6. Don’t let divorce define you.Don’t make an identity out of being hurt in divorce. There will be a time for talking about all your hurts and disappointments. But, then there will come a time to move on. Learn to feel whole and complete outside of a dissolved marriage. If you have trouble with this, get help. At some point, we need to stop blaming our parents and our ex for our problems.
Hi! I’m Adele - not the singer. I am the proud mother of two amazing humans, Jacob and Lyla. I find beauty in the simplicity of the world around me. I love bringing humans together with good food and creating a mood that fosters meaningful connection.
Have you ever wondered what the birds outside of your window are up to? Written by Andrew McDonald and illustrated by Ben Wood, Real Pigeons Fight Crime reveals that they might just be keeping you safe. Nickelodeon has teamed up with James Corden and Ben Winston, and their production company Fulwell 73, to produce an animated movie and TV series based on the book.
The movie and TV series are being developed to air on all Nickelodeon platforms.
Winston said, “We are so delighted to be working with our great friends at Nickelodeon on this wonderful, charming and funny book, and can’t wait to help bring it to life for kids everywhere!”
Ramsey Naito, Executive Vice President, Nickelodeon Animation Production and Development, said “Real Pigeons Fight Crime is about a secret squad of crime-fighting pigeons, with high stakes and true hilarity making it a perfect fit for our audience. By fusing the humor and expertise of the incredible team at Fulwell 73 Productions, we are ready to show kids what pigeons really do–fight crime, solve mysteries, take down bad guys, and keep neighborhoods safe!”
The Story Pirates, known for teaching creative writing to kids, began ramping up production of their digital content by adding new and exciting activities and podcasts. Each week, the crew aboard the Story Pirates ship takes original stories from kids and turns them into a wildly funny podcast for kids. Today’s episode features a special guest, Julie Andrews.
In the episode, The Story Pirates’ ship enters one of the galaxy’s most dangerous spots, the Switcheroo Zone, and items on board start randomly turning into other things like spaghetti, space raccoons and…Julie Andrews. The episode featuring two new stories: “Sarah’s Song Story,” about a girl who confronts her fear of clowns, written by Ella, a 9 year old from New Jersey, and “The Door That No One Could Open,” a story about a frustrating trip to the bathroom, written by a 9 year old from Illinois named Claire.
The special episode is available today via Gimlet, a Spotify company.
Eh, what’s up doc? The new Looney Tunes Cartoons on HBO Max!
Your favorite childhood classic is returning to television with brand new episodes starting this Weds., May 27. With modern animation that still pays homage to the cartoons of your childhood, the HBO Max reboot is fun for kids and parents alike.
Warner Bros. Animation is bringing Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Elmer Fudd, Porky Pig and the rest of the gang in their traditional pairings, which means lots of funny stories with plenty of practical jokes––but with the best technology-driven animation of today.
The new series is made up of 80 11-minute episodes, each with varied length shorts. Viewers will also get holiday-themed specials throughout the year!
Stream the entire show starting May 27 only on HBO Max.
If you’ve been reading your social media regularly during the Covid-19 lockdown, you’ve inevitably started theorizing about how your “couples” friends are coping: they’re going to be having a baby in nine or so months; they’re going to be separating; they are lying about how well they’re doing; they’re holding on for dear life, managing about as well as you are.
I don’t think many of us would be surprised at a post-Corona baby boom. I can see it now: every variation of the name king and queen you can imagine. After all, there are only so many things to do when you’re stuck in the house with no place to go. And, there are only so many things you can do over Zoom. Don’t even think of combining them. What is certainly surprising to no one, are the very real stressors on couples who’ve promised for better or worse, but not for lunch. And, are now stuck in close quarters without a single, solitary break from each other. Everywhere I go he’s there. Everywhere I go my child is there. But I digress. I kid. I kid. Save me.
After almost 25 years together, that’s 18 married in some eyes, with an additional seven married legally (thanks Supreme Court!), you might say that the husband and I have mastered staying out of each other’s way, at least long enough to avoid major eruptions. Sure, things have been incredibly difficult during this lockdown, especially with working from home and homeschooling a four-year-old. But, those 25 years have given us a few tricks beyond “don’t go to bed angry” that make our relationship work—even with a high-energy four-year-old in a lockdown situation. These work for us but your mileage may vary.
1. Live Your Best Instagram Life. You know all those moments that you share on social media? The ones that you stage and post? Whether they be of your kid in a ridiculously cute outfit, of your meal or of the toenail you just clipped? Stop photographing the moment and live it. Yes. Live it. Stop documenting and live. Today, we did an entire obstacle course in the backyard for the four-year-old to burn off some energy. We spent hours putting it together, running the course, laughing, playing. It was ephemeral, now living only in our memories—our shared family memories. I can still hear the laughter. I can still feel the soreness. It belongs to us.
2. Forgive, Like You Would Like to Be Forgiven. How many times have you done something incredibly stupid? I’ll wait while you count. How many times have you said something thoughtless? Again, I’ll wait. How many times would you have liked to push reset? Ah! You see where I’m going? We all want do-overs. We all do dumb things. Now, I want you to stop and think about all the pressure that we are currently under; these pressures are not ordinary pressures—these are not ordinary times. When you get into an argument—and we all get into arguments—ask yourself: if I had done this dumb thing, would I want to be forgiven? Is this thing so massive, that it’s worth holding on to? I’ll wait. I am not, by the way, advocating free Get Out of Jail cards. What I am advocating is grace. It’s all about degrees. Don’t set a standard for your partner that you’re not willing to set for yourself. Don’t set too high a standard for yourself either.
3. Do Spend Some Time Apart. Go into a separate room and read a book. Take a walk. Talk to a friend on the phone (and I mean talk, not text). Engage in a separate and distinct activity from those that are in lockdown with you. Whether you are an extrovert or an introvert, time away from those around you is essential to help you find yourself. Under regular situations, you would be alone and/or with different people for some part of the day. Try to mimic that as much as possible.
4. Vary Your Days and Routine. Do not engage in the same activities every single day. Take turns cooking, homeschooling, cleaning. Make sure you know what day it is. Set up schedules so that each of you do different things on different days. If your days start to run together and all feel the same, you are doing something wrong. Once routine starts to creep in, boredom is next followed by anxiety, stress, and well everything that comes along with it.
5. Get Out of the House. Go for walks. Run essential errands. Get some outdoor exercise. Spend time in the yard, go on a short hike. Even if all you do is take a walk around the block while you mumble to yourself, you’ve left the confines of the space you’ve been in. You’ve had a change of scene; with that change of scene, usually comes a change of perspective.
It’s funny (peculiar, not “ha, ha”), but among our friends, we are among the longest-married couples. Funny, because as a gay couple society does not normally look to us as an example of a successful marriage or partnership. Yet, 25 years later, we’re still chugging along. Yes, chugging. Marriage, partnership, coupledom (note, not martyrdom) is hard work—made harder by the addition of children; made harder still by the current lockdown. Yes, I keep using the word lockdown. To a lot of people, the term shelter in place simply does not fit the bill. When they are prevented from doing what they want to do, they can hear those bars swinging shut. At least this time, we’ve had some choice regarding who are fellow inmates are. And, we do get to decide, what’s for lunch.
Father, children's book critic, writer, judge, director, actor and amature photographer—together with his husband of 25 years—raising an energetic four-year old! "Parent is not just a noun, it's a verb. If you're ever in doubt as to what to do, substitute the word caregiver. It will steer you in the right direction."
Hooray, its almost National Pizza Party Day! If you’re looking to celebrate the big day this Fri., May 15th then keep scrolling.
In honor of the annual holiday, as well as the 25th anniversary of the first Toy Story film, Disney is releasing a tasty pizza recipe the whole family will love. Whip up some alien veggie meatballs with funny faces on whole wheat dough and you not only have a tasty meal, but a healthy one, too!
Looking to dress up for the occasion or stock up on Pizza Planet gear? shopDisney and other retailers have stocked plenty of must-have Pizza Planet gear!
