Why did the girl blush when she opened the refrigerator door? Because she saw the salad dressing!

Children love to laugh. For them, the modulations of their laughter are still a part of finding out who they are. With one laugh, they are experiencing different feelings, expressions and attitudes.

Laughter is used as a signal for being a part of a group — it signals a positive and accepting interaction. Laughter is also contagious — the laughter of one person can provoke laugher from the others. When most people think about their childhood, a situation, a movie scene or a joke, they often start to giggle and laugh. I recently saw a movie that keeps replaying in my mind, which encourages me to be happy and laugh every time I think about it. The scene and the language heard were so very funny.

When you’re in a crowded store and you hear a child laugh, everyone turns around to look. We’re looking because the laugh itself is so riveting. Somehow in that moment of listening to the peals of laughter, the world has somehow righted itself once again.

While raising my family, laugher was a large part of their everyday lives. With six children around, the wit and jokes never ended. I had a rule that was almost never broken: dinner was to be shared together each evening. Of course, we had soccer practice, recitals at the school auditorium, hockey practice, etc., but for the most part, we ate together and shared more fun than any other family in the neighborhood. The reasons we laughed so much was because I was raised with the belief that food should be eaten with love and with communication. The dinner table was our refuge from the day’s stress and trials — and we filled it with tradition, laughter and love.

We’ve all heard that laughter is the best medicine. Studies have shown it to be true. Studies have also shown that children who have a clown (and their parents) present prior to minor surgery had far less anxiety. Researchers have said that 60 percent of children suffer from anxiety when they know they are going to have surgery. High levels of anxiety can cause a higher risk of complications and healing time. Having the clown around brings joy and contentment to the child and hence, less complications.

Laughter is a part of human behavior which is regulated by the brain. There is laughter therapy which is used to remind clients that the importance of social support and relationships can help them stay more focused and balanced in their lives. My children didn’t need laughter therapy because of their ability to be fully in touch with their sensations, which made their laughter spring from their whole body. When we would tell stories and jokes at the dinner table, first there would be grins, then a gust of giggles and finally a warm laugh from deep within them.

I never tired of the “knock-knock” jokes: Knock, knock? Who’s there? Ella. Ella who? Ella-Fant. Or, knock-knock? Who’s there? Justin. Justin who? Justin time for supper. Knock-knock? Who’s there? Carl. Carl who? Carl’ll get you there faster than a bike ... It went on and on and we never tired of it.

We didn’t only share jokes, but we also shared time talking about our day, our friends, our hopes, our beliefs, our worries and our family dynamics. My children saw the funny side of situations and all was right each evening when we knew we would be together to eat our laden plates and laugh at our various tales and stories.

We grow from being serious about our lives, but we also grow enormously from our laughter. A child discovers that there is magic in humor. Children go out of their way to make Mom and Dad laugh. They love to see the smile on their parents’ faces and the glow that surrounds them. The whole family benefits when they set a regular time set aside for celebration — the celebration of their lives together and their laughter. Fond memories last forever.

Linda Milo is “The Parent-Child Connection Coach.” For more information, visit www.empoweringparentsnow.com. To book a free parent coaching session, write linda@empoweringparentsnow.com.