Laughter is a double-edged sword. We need to define our terms. Laughter is when the unexpected occurs. When two contrary elements are juxtaposed, the sudden surprise catches us off guard. And the more unexpected, the funnier it is.
Laughter is an integral part of emotional health.
You don't have to watch TV to release tension. You're smiling and can parlay that positive energy into movement, growth, and power for something meaningful you need to do. The child laughs, because he recognizes the bruise is a small worry in the big context. Having a sense of humor is a sign of maturity, because it demonstrates a sense of proportion about what's truly important. Growing and maturing is a process of learning to see all of life's issues in context.