Hot Topics     Home and Family     Teen Health    

Laughter still the best medicine



A father focuses on humor to help navigate his daughter’s teen years

A father focuses on humor to help navigate his daughter’s teen years


In the newsroom – be it online, network, newspaper, or just “the grapevine” – the adage “if it bleeds, it leads” still holds a lot of truth. Meaning, the harsh stuff will automatically get more attention, while the sweeter, lighter material will be relegated to a space far outside the spotlight. It applies to parenting advice, too. Parents of teenage kids in particular are bombarded – now more than ever – with horror stories, warnings, admonishments, and fear, usually in the service of selling you something. It’s easy to get scared, and hard to look away.

While he takes it all in, and takes it all seriously, Jeff Bogle advises dealing with the aforementioned onslaught by finding something you and your child can laugh at together and enthusiastically nurturing that activity. As he puts it: “Circumnavigating an oft-bitter, maddening 21st century world while also playing dodgeball with puberty, social media posturing, confusing new desires, a first job, and a burgeoning personal independence is serious business; however, playing it serious all of the time is destined to up the anxiety levels in kids and adults alike.”

For him and his fourteen-year-old daughter, the release valve consists of comedy sketch shows on YouTube, of which there are countless.

Lucky for everyone, a fellow 8th grader introduced Bogle’s daughter to the sketch comedy of Studio C a Utah-based troupe with a popular YouTube channel (2.4 million subscribers) producing shorts for all-ages. Bogle then introduced his daughter to 90s-era archives of MTV’s similar sketch comedy show The State

READ MORE: Ways to support your kids emotionally in the pandemic

Bogle writes, “Suddenly we were swapping favorite sketches, gut laughing together, and developing a new kind of secret one-liner lingo.”

According to Bogle, laughter not only offers a welcome respite from talk of the increasingly serious stuff, it helps deepen their bond of trust, so those discussions can transpire with less awkwardness. He also notes that while many parents dealing with teens publicly wish for the less-complicated years of toddlerhood, he is relishing sharing laughs he would not have been able to enjoy when his teen daughter was a little girl.



Other articles by HVP News Reporters


  • Get Hooked on Fishing, Not Drugs

    Third Annual Orange County District Attorney’s Office Youth Fishing Derby

    The Third District Attorney’s Office Youth Fishing Derby will run from April 1 through Sept. 4, 2023. The event is open to young people between the ages of 4 and 18 who are children or grandchildren of Orange County residents. read more »
  • Kids aren't eating fruits and veggies

    Happiest Baby's Dr. Harvey Karp has tips to change that

    A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that approximately 32% of 1- to 5-year-olds did not eat a single piece of fruit a day and nearly one half (~49%) didn't eat any vegetables a day. Roughly 51% drank a sugar-sweetened beverage, like fruit drinks or soda, at least once a week. read more »
  • 5 sleep habits essential for heart health

    Make sure you get your zzz's with these tips

    In the days following a time change due to daylight saving time, research shows a marked increase in heart attacks and strokes. However, losing sleep anytime can be a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. read more »
  • Take these 6 steps to manage your blood pressure

    Hypertension can be dangerous

    High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, affects nearly half of adults in the United States, and only about 1 in 4 with this condition have it under control, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). read more »
  • Make your St. Patrick's Day spread green with envy

    These open-faced noshes can be perfect for lunch, snack time or an appetizer

    Freshen up your St. Patrick’s Day menu with easy, light sandwiches inspired by the traditional color of the festivities. These open-faced noshes can be perfect for lunch, snack time or even as an appetizer for get-togethers with friends and family. read more »
  • Lucky mint brownie perfection

    A twisted combination of mint and sweet chocolate

    How lucky you must be to come across this recipe just in time for St. Patrick’s Day. This one is a twisted combination of mint and sweet chocolate that’s sure to have almost anyone’s taste buds screaming “yum.” This dessert might just be the pot of gold at the end of your rainbow this year. read more »
  • 3 ways parents can encourage social emotional learning in children

    Parents focus on social emotional skills, mental health, kindness and understanding differences

    Most parents would agree the quality of their children’s education plays a key role in their overall development. While parents are optimistic about the future of education, they also recognize children have educational needs beyond what is considered the standard. read more »
  • Selecting a health care provider

    Resources to guide your selection

    Getting health care for yourself or a loved one is a big responsibility, especially if you’re just getting started with Medicare or have changes in your life, such as a new diagnosis of a condition or disease. It can be overwhelming if you need services like nursing home care, have to find a new doctor or get home health care. read more »
  • 5 simple solutions for proper nasal hygiene

    Keep your nasal passages clean, clear and moisturized

    Your nose is essential for conditioning the air you breathe and serves as the first line of defense against dust, pollution, bacteria, viruses and more. The presence of these substances in your nasal passages can trigger infections, disease and illness. read more »
  • Have a bump on your foot?

    Don’t ignore it

    Have a lump or bump on your foot? Whether it’s painful or not, it could potentially signal a serious condition. Foot and ankle surgeons warn it’s important to have it checked out, no matter its size or location on your foot. read more »