the kids are really goin' wild for this...

i realized today on a job that there are a few surefire things that make the kids go wild. of course, not everything works for every kid, BUT--if you ever need a kid age 3.5-5.5 to smile, one of these three words should do the trick. they work even better when combined with "say___!" (as in, a substitute for "say cheese!") :

"booger!"
"tinkle!"
"poop!"

another good technique is to sniff a kid and exclaim, "pee YOOOOOO!!". this works for children even younger.

there is also the old "i'm gonna getchyoo!", which is generally more of a hit with the younger babes. those that are more humorously inclined, like my friend wiles, for example, will even laugh hysterically at the mention of a threat of someone else "getting him" (as in his mom saying, "aunt nowlzie's gonna getchyoo!"). the mere suggestion may throw him into a fit of giggles.

why is this? isn't it fascinating that, even at the age of one and a half, we can get SO EXCITED that we laugh hysterically at the anticipation of, well, anything? or maybe my little buddy is just extra advanced for his age? i think that's probably it.