Being silly with kids makes them smarter - study

"Silly play" and imaginative play are important for children aged 16 to 24 months. Photo / iStock

If you really want your child to excel in life the answer is not to teach them a difficult language or complicated maths - but to play silly jokes.

Taking time out to clown around helps youngsters to make friends and think more creatively, researchers say.

Playing "let's pretend" is also a vital way for them to learn important skills, they argue.

Researchers from Sheffield University discovered the importance of both "silly play" and imaginative play during tests on children aged 16 to 24 months.

Jokes included an adult putting a toy chicken on their head, while fantasy games involved activities like pretending to wash hands without soap or water.

Dr Elena Hoicka, from the department of psychology, said: "Knowing how to joke is good for maintaining relationships, thinking outside the box and enjoying life. Pretending helps children to practice new skills and learn new information.

"So while parents may feel a bit daft putting a toy chicken on their head they can at least console themselves with the knowledge that they are helping their children develop important skills for life."

Experts said toddlers as young as 16 months also learn to distinguish between joking and pretending by picking up on verbal cues from their parents.

The study also found that girls enjoyed pretending slightly more than boys. Future research will focus on parent surveys on joking and pretending to see how these abilities develop from birth through to the age of three.

- Daily Mail