The Funny Side of Life
One thing that makes our lives more enjoyable is humour. Laughing, being silly and telling jokes are all part of a happy and healthy childhood. SOS mothers often use humour to create a happy atmosphere for the children in their care. Sometimes they tell children funny stories from their own childhood, make animal sounds or just play around so everyone can laugh and relax while at home in the SOS Village.
When a child is upset and unable to share their thoughts, sometimes an SOS mother will use humour to get them to laugh or smile, easing the tension or stress of the situation. Humour can also play a vital role in improving the mental health of children and allows them to just be kids again. Activities like role-playing a funny character can work as a relaxation technique and can help a child to improve their coping mechanisms and overall mental health.
But humour can also come at very unexpected moments. One child at SOS Children´s Village Lahore, in Pakistan, recently brought some unintended comic relief to his mother and siblings.
As part of teaching children about their rights and consent, they are taught to identify and express themselves when they feel their body or feelings are not being respected. They are encouraged to immediately tell a SOS parent or someone they trust when something or someone makes them feel unsafe.
Six-year-old Zeeshan* put his own twist on things one Sunday morning. As all the siblings in the household took turns to take a bath, Zeeshan decided to take his bath wearing a pair of shorts. All his brothers and sisters were at first shocked and found it a little funny that their little brother went swimming in the bath.
He stood his ground and explained that he was in charge of his body and this is how he chose to bath from now on. While his mother was proud of him for thinking about what she had taught him, she couldn’t help but smile at the sight of her SOS son bathing in his shorts.
Canadians wishing to help children in Pakistan are encourage to sponsor a child, sponsor a Village or make a one-time donation. Your support will help change the lives of orphaned, abandoned and other vulnerable children. Please help today.