Fun-ny with a Purpose
By Tiffany Hoffman
Kids like to laugh. Doctors say it is healthy to laugh. And at Highlights®, the editors believe that tickling readers' funny bones with jokes, riddles, and illustrations each month helps lead to a lifelong love of reading magazines.
"We get a lot of letters from kids who enjoy reading the jokes and riddles," Coordinating Editor Kim Griswell says. "They love to thumb through the magazine to find these features."
Griswell and Assistant Editor Linda Rose agree that one of the greatest assets the jokes and riddles offer—beyond a monthly dose of laughter—is the opportunity for kids to share something with others.
"They love to share jokes and riddles with friends and family members," Griswell says.
In the May 2007 issue, "'Test' Your Funny Bone" presents a full page of 22 riddles, jokes, and cartoons. This is in addition to the riddles, jokes, and cartoons found in each issue. Rose says features like these not only "tickle the funny bone," but also help with social interaction. "Kids can feel more confident when they tell a joke or a riddle," she says.
The Highlights editors receive thousands of jokes and riddles from readers each year. Kids also contribute tongue twisters and "Creatures Nobody Has Ever Seen!" that are published every few months. In the May issue, readers will find creatures such as the "Silliness Gloss" that eats tomatoes and plays baseball and the "Giggle Pie" that will make them laugh.
Jokes and riddles selected for the magazine are screened by several editors to make sure they are funny and are not offensive. "We want to model humor that is funny but respectful of others," Griswell says. "We show kids that you can be funny without making fun of others. Everyone can find jokes here that are appropriate to share."
The humor provides an outlet for creativity. "The jokes and riddles help kids see a different way of looking at things," Rose says. "Kids start thinking outside of the box. They can use the jokes and riddles in Highlights as a springboard to create jokes and riddles of their own."
Rose says kids who are intimidated by reading may also find jokes and riddles more inviting than longer features. And there's a payoff, she says. "You get to laugh!" It's Funny with a Purpose.