7 Tips for Teaching Kids with Humor

Humor is an effective tool for engaging children and enhancing our teaching. Using humor appropriately can help a child to connect quickly and ease their apprehension. It can also aid in retention of the material being taught, as well as help students to focus.

Here are some quick tips to follow when using humor to teach:

  • Acknowledge and laugh when we make mistakes—it will happen!
  • Use humorous stories from our own life that help us connect relationally.
  • Avoid inappropriate humor, such as sarcastic comments or anything that could be considered rude.
  • Remember, we are not David Letterman—humor should be a tool, not an end goal.
  • Always connect the humor to the topic being taught. Remember, teaching is the goal.
  • Never use humor to belittle or hurt a child.
  • Bringing joy to the classroom is a WIN for everyone.

We serve a God who created humor. One of my favorite verses is Proverbs 17:22 (AMP): A happy heart is good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing. When we use humor we not only can increase our students retention, but we can also bring joy to their heart. How do you use humor when you teach?