Is laughter the best medicine?

I imagine all of us at some point have been advised that laughter is the best medicine, which some might approach with the same sense of cynicism, or feeling patronised, as we do with phrases like “chin up, it might never happen” or “worse things happen at sea”. However, so compelling is the notion that laughter has medical benefits that it has sparked research and some doctors prescribing laughter classes. Professor Marco Saffi from Brazil has led a team of researchers investigating links between laughter and heart health. Their study was presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress in 2023, and the results were very interesting.

The study showed that people with coronary heart disease who took part in a laughter therapy course, which included watching comedy twice a week, compared to those who were not on the course, had better heart and circulation improvements, including their arteries being able to expand to a greater extent, oxygen flow increasing and inflammation markers in the blood reducing. Of course, one study is not enough to declare definite, concrete medical fact (if such a thing could ever exist), but it certainly is a good prompt to reflect on how much laughter we have in our lives. Children laugh all the time, us adults are perhaps a bit too serious.

This week, it was the turn of Lawrence House to lead Years 1 to 6 in assembly – their theme, a giggle challenge for Comic Relief, bringing the red of Lawrence House and Comic Relief together for an explosion of colour across the Prep. The children of Lawrence taught us about a project supported by funds raised for Comic Relief –  Electric Umbrella. Electric Umbrella is a charity whose mission is to create a “truly inclusive society” by changing mindsets and empowering learning disabled and neurodivergent people through creativity and connection. Music and joy, an inspirational combination. Lawrence House led us in song – “No such thing as normal” – one of Electric Umbrella’s anthems, and so we continue to proactively support our inclusive and wonderfully diverse school community.

The giggle challenge commenced and all children were given their giggle-a-minute card to be signed off for each person they managed to make laugh. Jokes, silly dances and pulling funny faces have led to much merriment. If you are ever in need of a ‘knock knock’ joke, our Year 1s are the experts.

This week, I was delighted to present Myla in Year 5 with a Head of Prep Award for her outstanding kindness and leadership. Myla has been supporting younger children in one of our morning groups, helping them to get settled and ready for learning. All this without being asked, just because she is a thoughtful and generous person. Myla is a role model to us all.

Have a wonderful, laughter-filled weekend,

Alice Goodfellow