Laughter is the best medicine. Why do kids (or even adults actually) love funny stories so much?

 Kids and humour go together like peanut butter and jelly. There's nothing quite like the sound of a child's infectious laughter when they hear a funny story. Whether it's a silly character, a funny situation, or a goofy punchline, kids just can't get enough of the giggles.

But why do kids love funny stories so much? Well, for starters, humour is a great way to connect with others. When a child hears a funny story, they feel like they're part of a shared experience with the storyteller and other listeners. It's a bonding moment that can create lasting memories.

In addition to building connections, funny stories can also help kids develop their social and emotional skills. Laughter is a natural stress reliever, and it can help kids cope with difficult emotions like anxiety, sadness, or frustration. It also helps them develop a positive attitude and a healthy sense of humor, which can be valuable assets as they navigate the ups and downs of life.

But perhaps most importantly, funny stories are just plain fun. They're a source of joy and entertainment that can brighten up a child's day and leave them with a smile on their face. And let's be honest, who doesn't love a good laugh?

So, if you're looking to make a child's day a little brighter, try sharing a funny story with them. Whether it's a classic joke, a silly song, or a wacky tale, it's sure to bring a smile to their face and maybe even a little bit of belly laughter. And who knows, you might just create a lifelong love of humour and storytelling in the process.

Here are some links to some trustworthy sites for children's stories online:

  1. Storyline Online: https://www.storylineonline.net/ - A free literacy resource where famous actors read popular children's books.

  2. International Children's Digital Library: https://en.childrenslibrary.org/ - A digital library with thousands of children's books from around the world available in multiple languages.

  3. Read.gov: https://www.read.gov/books/ - The Library of Congress's online collection of classic children's books, including Alice in Wonderland and The Wizard of Oz.

  4. Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/search/?query=children%27s+books - An online library with over 60,000 free eBooks, including a large collection of children's books.

  5. Epic!: https://www.getepic.com/ - A digital library for kids 12 and under with thousands of books, videos, and quizzes.

But in case you are looking for a funny story to tell with your kids while playing with our wooden animal balancing toy, here is a funny story about the wacky world of wooden balancing animal blocks, that you can try on your kid (with him or her acting the part of the monkey). 

"Once upon a time, in the heart of the African savannah, there lived a group of unlikely friends. There was a rhino, a lion, a bear, a giraffe, a zebra, an alligator, a dog, an elephant, and a turtle.

They all had different personalities and hobbies. The rhino loved to charge around and play rough, the lion was a natural born leader, the bear enjoyed taking long naps, the giraffe was always stretching to reach new heights, the zebra was known for his stripes and sense of humor, the alligator loved to sneak around in the water, the dog was loyal and playful, the elephant had a soft spot for the smaller animals, and the turtle, well, he was just slow and steady.

One day, they all decided to go on an adventure together. They traveled through the savannah, over mountains, and across rivers. Along the way, they encountered all sorts of obstacles, from steep cliffs to treacherous swamps.

But no matter what they faced, they always managed to find a way through. The turtle may have been slow, but he had a clever mind and often came up with solutions to their problems.

As they journeyed deeper into the unknown, they encountered a pack of mischievous monkeys (by monkey ... I meant my kids). The monkeys had heard of their exploits and wanted to challenge them to a race.

The animals accepted the challenge, and the race began. The rhino charged ahead, the lion roared with determination, and the zebra cracked jokes to keep everyone's spirits up.

But it was the turtle who surprised everyone. He may have been slow, but he had a trick up his sleeve. He pulled out a pair of roller skates and zipped ahead, leaving the other animals in the dust.

The monkeys were shocked and impressed. They had never seen such a clever turtle before.

In the end, the animals all crossed the finish line together, with the turtle riding on the rhino's back. They celebrated their victory with a big feast and a dance party under the stars.

From that day on, they all became even closer friends, and they knew that no obstacle was too big to overcome when they worked together.

The moral of the story? Even the slowest and smallest among us can surprise everyone with their wit and cleverness. And who knows, maybe even turtles can roller skate!