Humor supporting preschoolers in designing and making crafts

Abstract

This study aims to examine how designing and making humorous craft products can be connected to storytelling. The study involved 17 preschoolers who were tasked to design a soft toy that would make others laugh. The brainstorming was supported by collaborative and individual activities (e.g., discussions and sketching). The preschoolers told humorous stories inspired by the craft process. Humor and different activities form an inspiring starting point for the design process. Craft making with humor motivates children, gives them story ideas, and makes learning more holistic. Storytelling makes children’s thoughts on their soft toys visible. Girls’ and boys’ views differ on what makes others laugh. Girls prefer to laugh together, whereas boys’ humor is aggressive, unconventional, and may be based on embarrassing others or laughing at others’ expense. Girls emphasize the significance of cheering up others; thus, they are more product oriented than boys.