Laugh Out Loud! (LOL)

Why not laugh?

I attended a workshop at ICOT in Belfast last week that was literally a laugh (http://www.laughteryoga.org/).

The underpinning premise was that laughter is healing, heathy and restorative. The workshop had me doubled over laughing with a group of people I had never met before- I laugh a lot so this was not an entirely new experience for me- and we connected on a different level to all other workshops at the conference.

I wonder if you laugh enough?

As an educator it is very easy to look at the negatives in school- constant earthquakes, we were burgled last night at Windsor $100000 worth of i pads stolen, stressed staff, troubled children, upset parents, however it is relatively easy to adjust my attitude- just visiting the playground at interval or lunch and I will see and hear children laughing, usually our staffroom is filled with laughter.

Children appear to be able to laugh at the drop of a hat- as we get older we appear to be conditioned to take more care about why,when, where, how and with whom we laugh- and often we don't do it at all. One of our Teaching and Learning Beliefs at Windsor is " A positive and challenging learning environment", you can bet that means bring on the laughs (as well as giving 100% in our learning)

If you are an educator ask yourself the question, "Do I enable laughter and a positive learning environment?"

If not then I suggest you re think your role with children. Children are a joy, they bring joy with them, life is hard enough (we can attest to this in Christchurch), find a way to encourage laughter today in your school, workplace, classroom, staffroom or home.

You will have nothing to loose, your day will be happier and those around you will not complain that they were upset because together you laughed!

Pass on a laugh tomorrow!