Canoe. Canoe who?
Canoe lend me some more money?
Okay, so maybe that hits a little too close to home for some parents. But it’s still kind of funny. For collections of similar knock-knock classics, check out your local library.
Joke telling is an art. Improve your audience approval rating by shaping the outlines of the joke in your mind before opening your mouth. Whatever you do, have the punch line down cold before diving in. It can be hilarious watching someone murder a joke, but it’s not quite the same when you’re the hapless performer.
For a comic, timing is everything. Even deciding when to tell your joke matters. Wow them when they least expect it and when the mood is right. Never prep your kids with promises of perfection. Let your storytelling and quality material speak for itself. Or not.
When you’re setting up your joke, include all the relevant details. Practice, practice, practice that punch line until you’ve got it letter-perfect. Remember: no pausing and no “wait-a-minute” excuses. Just say your piece, smile, and stand back for the laughter—or rotten fruit. Whenever you hear a clean classic, jot down the details so you can share it with your kids. Start a collection of your personal best. And once you stumble upon a winner, stand ready to tell it at the slightest provocation.
Levity is a gift—one you have the power to give your children. Besides, won’t it be fun to hear them complain to their siblings long into adulthood, “Hey, do you remember that terrible joke Dad used to tell us about the…?” Groans and moans. “Oh no, please—not that one!”