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Funny bones
Motivational speaker encourages parents, teachers to laugh

By Lisa Singleton-Rickman
Staff Writer

John Cooper loves to laugh. The Atlanta-based motivational speaker travels the Southeast telling kids, their parents and teachers how to let humor work in their favor. He's been conducting his Laughing Parent, Laughing Teacher seminars for 20 years.

Cooper spent the day Monday at L.E. Willson Elementary School, first with kids, then with parents, then teachers.

"I tell the teachers -- no, I promise the teachers -- that the more they engage their students in the classroom, the more those students learn."

His method of choice is humor.

While he says he knows not all teachers and parents are, nor should be, comedians, he says a sense of humor goes a long way with children.

"Never be afraid to be silly with your kids," he said. "It makes for some wonderful memories later on in their lives."

Donning rubberized swirling eyes and a large red foam nose, he encouraged parents gathered for his 10 a.m. session to have some fun with their kids and not be so serious all the time.

"Parents, when your day starts out with a 'hurry up and get ready, we've got to go,' you're setting yourself up for a gnarly day."

Instead, he suggested waking children up with a hug or, for really small kids, pretend to be "the kissing monster" which makes them laugh.

He advocates toys and tricks and the use of jokes to break tension.

"If your children do gross things and you just can't stand it, do it back. Gross them out a time or two. They'll quit," he said.

He gave countless tips on how to make family time entertaining for the whole family. He assures people that he's used every suggestion he advocates on his own child, who's now 24.

"Make a game out of cleaning the house," he said. "Name the rooms silly things and make cards for each room. Each family member draws a card and has to clean that room. And yes, someone will get the bathroom."

He also addressed the "monster" in most every home: the television. He gave practical advice, discouraging television programs, even cartoons that teach disrespect of other people.

He also suggested that family occasionally have electricity-free nights -- no electronics but overhead lights are used for an evening.

"Talk, read, play games, do something, but don't park it in front of the television or computer for the night," he said.

L.E. Willson Principal Mary Napier said Cooper's demeanor with children captivated the students Monday.

"He was great," she said. "He had us all laughing hysterically."

Daphanie Owens attended the parent session Monday morning. She said she came seeking some fresh ideas for her 10-year-old. One of Cooper's suggestions really resonated with Owens.

"We're coming up on a birthday and I loved his idea about giving an inexpensive gift every day the week of the child's birthday," she said. "I thought that was a great idea."