Title: Joke And Riddle Jackpot

Authors: Michael J. Pellowski

Themes: Autism, Communication, Coping Skills, Social Skills, Self-Esteem, Humor 

Age Recommendation:  Pre-K through Elementary School

Summary: Joke and Riddle Jackpot isn't the only good joke book out there, (in fact it's one of two that I recommend on this blog), but it is full of clever and clean jokes delivered in a variety of formats from one-liners to knock-knock jokes. Humor is an important part of life! One of the most important ways that we connect with each other is through humor. It's also a great stress reliever and coping skill. 

Ideas / Interventions: Using humor in any session can reduce tension, strengthen your relationship with a client, and also model important communication skills. Joke books are a fun way to practice social skills and develop pragmatic language strength when working with children on the autistic spectrum, especially. The humor most kids enjoy often lies in their comprehension of the multiple meanings of words. Because children on the autistic spectrum find it difficult to interpret language when it is nuanced and heavily influenced by idiom or irony, spending time going through a joke book can be worthwhile. Another benefit from spending time with joke books is that doing so provides an opportunity for your client to become confident in their ability to tell a joke when it requires responses from others; knowing how to deliver a punchline, follow-through with a knock-knock joke, or when it's a good time to tell a joke at all are important communication skills.