Humour in Child and Youth Care Work “Helping workers to learn what they need to achieve for greater competency in practice” John Digney Why think about humour ?

Universal ‘truths’ Humour occurs in most (if not all) residential settings and can be a vital part of our work with kids. Humour has the potential to enhance quality of life and outcomes for kids.

DEFINING HUMOUR Thoughts ??? ‘Hardly a word in the language … would be harder to define with scientific precision than this familiar one.’ Sully (1902)

Observations from Workers CYC NEEDS ‘appropriate’ humour Effective use of humour is a skill Humour depends on context Humour can be a safe approach to working with kids Staff need to understand ‘why’ they use humour

5 ‘Daily Life’ Categories The ‘Care’ element The dle element The ‘crisis’ element Humour & learning Humour for staff

Humour as part of the ‘care experience’ for youth Humour as an expression of caring and compassion, Humour to comfort and make the ‘care experience’ feel safe, Humour to project a positive setting (of the care setting for youth), Humour as an alternative to force or authoritarian approaches.

Humour used in everyday interaction with youth Humour in connection & relationship, Humour to confirm trust, Humour to equalise and humanise, Humour as a way of ‘being with safely’, Humour to re-connect and restore

Humour in crisis prevention and intervention Humour in pre-defusing Humour to overcome resistance, (humour to ‘break the flow’) Humour to defuse or calm

Humour & learning Humour to communicate a message to youth Humour modelled for youth.

Humour for staff Humour as an aid to coping Humour to overcome embarrassment

Humour Concerns Humour may require relationship Humour must be genuine (not forced) Humour must not be sarcastic or hurtful Humour relies on precise timing Monitor reactions Can be abused Can be very dangerous

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