When was the last time you had a proper belly laugh?  I bet it made you feel good.

That is because when you laugh, the act of laughing helps the body to release endorphins, and create oxytocin, the love hormone, and this is why you feel happy after a good old laugh!

But, why wait until you see something funny on the television or on YouTube, or when you meet up with friends, or till someone tells you a funny joke. Did you know you can trick the brain into releasing those endorphins by fake laughing, because the brain cannot tell the difference between a fake laugh and a real one! There has also been lots of research around laughter being linked to creating T-Cells, our natural disease fighting cells.

That is why across some of our Children’s Centres we run laugh, sing and play sessions. Patricia, who runs these sessions, is a qualified laughter practitioner. In her fantastic sessions she gently introduces us to scenarios which are fun for both adult and child and make us want to laugh.

It’s wonderful to be at the Centres when her sessions are running and hear laughter coming from the room her groups are being run in, it makes us all smile and laugh, as we know what a good time the families are having. I also see the parents, babies and children come out of the sessions with big smiles on their faces, a sign of a good time!

Not only does Patricia focus on laughing she also practices breathing techniques which support breathing deep in the diaphragm; deep breathing increases oxygen levels and reduces cortisol (stress hormone) she also sings nursery rhymes, has shakers, bubbles, ribbons and finishes the session off with a story.

So, why not try out one of her sessions and have a laugh with us! Laugh, sing and play run on Thursdays, during the term, 9.30 – 10.15 and then Pound Park 11.00 – 11.45.

You can find out about all our sessions by visiting our what’s on page.

Liz Day – Children’s Centre Manager