Uppeldi og menntun - 01.01.2008, Page 46

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abstract
The strategic use of humor in education has many advantages. Play and work based
on humor stimulates children´s imagination, encourages them to learn new things
and helps them deal with difficult situations. Humor plays a significant role in child-
ren´s creation of identity and self-esteem, as well as in their social development and
socialization. Children´s humor can therefore give important clues about their cogni-
tive development. Teachers nevertheless seem to avoid the use of funny stories in the
classroom. Humorous books are often met with prejudice. They are often considered
frivolous without appreciation of their deeper meaning or intrinsic value. This article
deals with humor in children´s books and the use of such books in the classroom. The
Icelandic term kímni is used to emphasize laughing with someone as well as laughing
at something. It is grounded in the understanding, knowledge and imagination of
those who laugh.
Brynhildur Þórarinsdóttir er lektor
við Kennaradeild Háskólans á Akureyri.
KÍMNIGÁFUÐ BÖRN