Why children ask you to repeat silly words again and again, says psychology
Psychological research explains that children repeat silly words because they enjoy the anticipation, pattern recognition, and social bonding involved in the interaction. Unlike adults, children find humor in the unexpected and the breaking of established linguistic patterns.
Why it matters
Understanding child development and humor helps parents and educators foster better communication and social learning.
There is a moment many parents will recognise. You accidentally call a spoon a “spoonasaurus”, give a funny name to your child’s favourite toy, or say a completely nonsensical word in a silly voice. Your child bursts out laughing and asks you to say it again. You oblige. They laugh harder. Before long, the same word has been repeated 15 times, and you are beginning to wonder what could possibly be so funny about it.For adults, the joke may have run its course after the first few repetitions. For a young child, however, the fun may lie in much more than the word itself.
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