💩 Why Kids Think Poop Is Funny (and How It Can Actually Build Connection & Confidence)

🌱 Giggles in the Silliest Places

If you’ve ever been around a preschooler, you know one word that almost always gets a laugh: “poop.”

As a parent, grandparent, or teacher, it might feel confusing — or even a little embarrassing — when kids latch onto potty talk. But here’s the truth: children’s love of poop jokes isn’t random. It’s actually tied to normal stages of humor development, emotional growth, and even how kids build social connections.

And yes, science backs this up.

🧠 Why Kids Laugh at “Poop”

1. It’s Taboo (and Safe to Break the Rules)

Children quickly learn that potty words are “not for polite conversation.” Which makes them perfect for giggles! Humor often lives where rules are bent just enough to feel rebellious but not dangerous. Poop humor is safe rebellion.

📚 Anthropologist Sjaak van der Geest notes that children’s jokes about excretion are a normal, cross-cultural form of play — a way kids test boundaries while bonding with others.

2. It’s a Milestone of Mastery

Potty training is one of the first big developmental achievements for kids. Talking about poop — or joking about it — is their way of owning the subject and celebrating their new independence.

📚 Developmental psychology research shows early humor often centers on bodily functions because kids are newly aware of them and proud of their control.

3. It Gets a Reaction (and That Feels Powerful)

Say “poop” in a classroom, and watch the ripple: kids laugh, teachers groan, parents roll their eyes. Children learn quickly that these words get a big response — which reinforces the joke.

📚 In her study of schoolyard humor, researcher P. Kirby observed that scatological humor wasn’t just about the word itself — it was about the shared laughter and attention it created.

4. It’s About Connection

Humor is one of the earliest tools kids use to bond with each other. Potty humor is universal — everyone understands it, and it puts kids on equal footing. A child who says “poop” at the right moment isn’t just being silly; they’re trying to connect.

📚 Longitudinal studies on child humor (Stenius et al.) show laughter is a central way children negotiate play and belonging.

💛 From Giggles to Growth: How Poop Humor Helps Kids

When seen through the lens of child development, poop humor is more than silliness:

• ✅ Normalizes the body: Helps kids accept bodily functions without shame.

• ✅ Reduces embarrassment: Turns accidents into laughter, not trauma.

• ✅ Encourages connection: Shared humor creates friendships and belonging.

• ✅ Boosts resilience: Teaches kids it’s okay to laugh at mistakes and move on.

🧸 Why I Created the Comfort Cozy Line

When I designed the Comfort Cozy line of crochet toys, I leaned right into this truth: poop humor can be silly and safe.

That’s why you’ll find poop-shaped plushies that say:

• “I give a poop about you”

• “Holy poop, I think you’re wonderful”

They might get a giggle, but they also deliver something deeper: a message of unconditional love, even in life’s messy moments.

Because kids need reminders that they’re not judged for accidents, mistakes, or imperfections. And sometimes the gentlest way to say “you’re still lovable” is with a smiling plushie shaped like poop.

📖 Meet Little Plop — Turning Giggles into Growth

Alongside the Comfort Cozy Line, I also created Little Plop — a cheerful, poop-shaped plush with a heart as big as their grin — and a companion board book called Little Plop: A Love You Story.

Together, they bring to life the same simple, powerful message at the heart of Ploppals:

🌱 Life can get messy.
💛 Mistakes happen.
🌈 And you’re still loved—exactly as you are.

In the story, Little Plop learns that even when you’re feeling “poopy,” you can rest, grow, and shine again. The gentle rhymes and whimsical art help kids laugh at life’s messier moments and remember that every feeling, every flaw, and every “oops” is part of being human — and still worthy of love.

The plushie turns that message into something a child can hold: soft, comforting, and always ready for hugs or giggles. Together, they make emotional resilience feel real — a little silly, a little sweet, and full of heart.

Perfect for bedtime snuggles, classroom calm corners, or anyone who needs a gentle reminder that laughter and love belong together.

One Final Thought

Poop jokes may make adults roll their eyes — but for kids, they’re a way to feel powerful, connected, and understood.

And when we take that humor and wrap it in love, forgiveness, and play? We give children more than a laugh. We give them comfort, confidence, and connection that lasts.

FAQ 

Q: Is poop humor normal for kids?
A: Yes! Research shows it’s a completely normal, healthy stage of humor development in early childhood. Kids often use safe, silly words like “poop” to explore humor, connection, and confidence.

Q: Are poop-shaped plush toys really appropriate?
A: Absolutely. Ploppals plushies are designed to turn potty humor into positive connection. Each one carries an uplifting message — like “I give a poop about you” — reminding kids they’re loved, accepted, and free to laugh without shame.

Q: Why are all the Comfort Cozies poop-shaped?
A: Because life gets messy sometimes — and we believe comfort and laughter belong right in the middle of it. The poop shape is playful, universal, and instantly funny to kids, while the soft handmade feel and kind words make it comforting and safe. It’s our way of saying, “You’re loved, even when things feel messy.”

💌 Ready to Bring Comfort & Giggles Home?

Heather
Founder, Ploppals