Jokes have been the topic of much confusion and interest around here, but sadly, almost no skill. For one thing, many of the jokes an adult knows are inappropriate for children. But even when you go down your short list of appropriate jokes, it's surprising how often a joke depends on a person having a certain amount of knowledge. Without that knowledge, the joke isn't funny.
What did Cinderella say when her pictures were late?
"Some day my prints will come."
This is only funny if you are familiar with getting film developed or printed off at a store somewhere and that they are called prints. This may not have relevance to a child who is familiar with printing pictures at home and has only visited one hour photo labs and who calls pictures "pictures" and not prints.
In other words, illustrating what goes into making a joke funny has been extremely difficult. The girls laugh at jokes out of obligation, not because they think it is funny. And they think nothing of coming up with their own joke.
"Why did the dog dance?" Imogen asked.
"Why?" I said.
"Because he wanted to go for a ride!" she said. Genevieve laughed. (She's the perfect audience.)
"Is that a joke?" I asked.
"Yes."
"Was it funny?" I asked.
"Yes," Imogen said. "The dog danced! Duh."
I reflected that I did not teach my child to say duh, and she probably learned it at a school where she also takes etiquette classes.
"Do you get it now?" Imogen asked.
"Um, no," I said.
"I'm no good at making up jokes," Imogen said dejectedly as visions of being the next David Letterman were killed before her eyes.
"People don't usually make up jokes. They hear jokes and they tell them to other people," I said. So I told her a knock knock joke.
Knock knock.
Who's there?
Orange.
Orange who?
Orange you going to open the door?
Ok, so I don't know all that many jokes myself. I googled for kids jokes and now I know a lot more.
How do you catch a unique rabbit?
Unique up on it!
HA!
