A simple practice reduces stress and increases important brain chemicals, says an expert

The old adage that laughter is the best medicine may be true, according to new research that suggests it is an important motivator for children’s development.

Laughter and play are fundamental to healthy brain development, emotional well-being and social relationships, according to Dr. Jacqueline Harding, a pediatrician at Middlesex University in London.

In her book, “The Brain That Loves to Laugh,” Harding says that happiness is a complex biological phenomenon that helps children navigate stress and build strong, responsive minds, SWNS reports.

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“When we see children laughing, we see the brain’s intelligence at work: learning, connecting and growing,” Harding told SWNS.

“Hope and humor, it seems, are not only the spice of life, but the basis of a recipe for healthy development.”

Laughter activates extensive brain networks, including motor regions and the prefrontal cortex, long before children learn to speak. By helping the brain to resolve conflicting ideas, it increases intelligence and activates working memory, acting as a “brain exercise,” experts say.

At the molecular level, laughter changes internal chemistry by reducing stress hormones such as cortisol and epinephrine. It also increases “happy chemicals” such as dopamine, serotonin and endorphins.

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Additionally, laughter is known to boost oxytocin, which deepens emotional bonds between parents and children.

Chronic stress does the exact opposite: It impairs learning, suppresses immune function and alters the developing nervous system, which controls emotions and long-term memory, per SWNS.

Chronic stress can negatively affect not only children’s mental well-being, but their physical condition as well. (Stock)

“Simply put, young children’s emotional state has a direct impact on how they navigate the world,” Harding said.

Parents can encourage these benefits through spontaneous playtimes and fun interactions, the expert advises.

“Spontaneous, joyful play is the antidote to depression.”

This interaction does more than create laughter — it helps children develop emotional systems, strengthen feelings of safety and connection, and support social and cognitive development, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

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“Spontaneous, fun play is an antidote to stress, as it increases endorphin levels released by the brain,” says Harding. “Creative, joyful play does its most prominent work at the molecular level, especially at a time when the human brain is most receptive.”

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This shared joy also establishes “joint control,” where the child learns to control his stress by drawing on the biological store of first positive experiences.

Spontaneous, fun play is an antidote to stress, as it increases the levels of endorphins released by the brain, experts say. (Stock)

Harding advocates integrating humor directly into classrooms to reduce mental load and improve children’s retention of important concepts. By stimulating the nervous system, happiness creates an ideal environment for information absorption, according to the SWNS report.

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“Safe relationships and stress-free play spaces encourage learning,” she added. “The curriculum should not be prioritized over those two important factors.”