girl in jester hat

        What is it about laughter that renders it contagious? Could it be the funny sounds that we make as a chuckle bubbles up? Science surely has the physiological answers. I do know, however, that watching/hearing someone laugh is actually funny. I had a childhood friend whose laughter was so communicable, that giggling was our favorite pastime. I just had to say, "Let's laugh."
 
        Contagious LaughterTM lunchboxes for kids are all designed for this purpose. The Barrel of Laughs in particular, is meant to invoke serious silliness. While slime is not currently in this box, the memory of it certainly inspired the overall inventory (the Space Capsule contains Pluto putty--a cosmic (not at all messy) version of the old fashioned stuff. It is weird,non-toxic, blue goo, the physical properties of which make it kind of funny. I recall summer camp attempts to make slime from shampoo, shaving cream, baby powder and who knows what else? We had the gross factor down, I will say that much for us. Later, as a day camp counselor, slime making was an activity. I was delighted to learn that it was actually easy to make with white glue and laundry starch. The Barrel of Laughs lunchbox currently contains some seriously cool Rainbow Glow Dough, a more refined slime-type product that also glows in the dark. It also contains brightly colored Boing Putty, which is at once squishy and bouncy.

        Arguably as silly as the tactile favorites are the sounds that evoke laughter. My niece, for example, entertained three adults as much as she did herself, when let loose upon a whoopee cushion. Her giggles were  hilarious. Finally, what Contagious Laughter collection would be complete without the visually funny? The Box Office lunchbox contains face paint and a jester hat, for those times when. . . well, when words escape us.