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Episode 14: Playing Around
In Playing Around, Dan decides to play around to make everyone laugh. He makes Sally, Barney and Jennie laugh, but also manages to make Oliver jump, causing him to set off down the track without his passengers. Oliver is angry with Dan, who feels sorry when he realises what he's done. He apologises and explains that he meant to make Oliver laugh, not to make him angry. Oliver is no longer angry and pulls a funny face to make Dan laugh.
Key emotion: Joking (playing around)
Additional emotions: Angry, Excited, Happy, Sorry, Surprised, Tired, Grumpy
Themes in Playing Around
Causes of playing around
We play around when we feel good and want to make other people laugh and be happy too.
Ask the child:
Why did Dan pull a funny face at Sally?
Why did he make up the rhyme for Jennie and Barney?
How did it make them feel?
How could Dan tell that Sally, Jennie and Barney enjoyed his playing around?
Your child and playing around
Ask the child:
Do you ever feel that you'd like to make other people happy or laugh?
What do you do to make people laugh?
Are there other ways apart from making faces?
How can you tell that people are enjoying your playing around?
Reacting to playing around
Reaction depends on personality and mood.
Ask the child:
Did Sally, Jennie and Barney enjoy Dan's playing around?
Did Oliver enjoy Dan's playing around?
How could you tell that he didn't?
Why didn't Oliver enjoy it?
Discuss how different people may react differently to jokes and pranks, depending on their personality and the situation.
Ask the child:
When you try to make people laugh, does it work with all of them? Why?
Are there people who enjoy certain kinds of jokes more than others?
How can you tell if they enjoy your jokes?
Apologising and making amends
Ask the child:
What happened to Oliver when Dan shouted 'Boo'?
How did that make Oliver feel?
Did Dan want to make Oliver angry?
How did Dan feel when he saw that Oliver was angry?
What did he do to make Oliver feel better?
How could Oliver know that Dan was sorry?
What did he do to show that he wasn't angry any more?
Discuss the importance of apologising and explaining our motives to restore friendship.
Your child and apologising
Ask the child:
Have you ever tried to joke with someone who didn't think it was funny, or was offended?
What did you do to make them feel better?
Have other children ever offended you by playing around?
How could you make yourself feel better?
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