The development of humour in early childhood progresses from an early age. Most babies learn how to smile at the tender age of six weeks. Infants will enjoy silly faces and peek-a-boo games, while toddlers will enjoy a sense of nonsense or the re-purposing of objects. Children around the age of three will begin to enjoy playing with words and rhymes, while around the age of four, children may start to tell simple knock, knock jokes. It isn't usually until the age of six or seven and beyond, however, that children start to understand puns, implied meaning and irony. It is around this age that children begin to understand those knock, knock jokes and are able to tell them with a little more conviction.
Which all leads to my purpose here...
Scholastic's latest anthology of jokes, while recommended for children four years and older, may in deed miss the boat! Younger children may enjoy the book, but have little understanding of the humour underlying each page. Mark Guthrie has produced a beautiful collection of Australian flavoured illustrations, which no doubt will engage younger children.
While it's touted as a first book of jokes - just keep in mind, younger children may not 'get it'!
Illustrated by Mark Guthrie
Scholastic, paperback $6.99
Recommended for 6+
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