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75 of the Best Dad Jokes Your Kids Will Love

Get your kids laughing with these punny punchlines, plus learn why sharing jokes brings families together.

By Stephanie Matas
75 of the Best Dad Jokes Your Kids Will Love

When does a joke become a dad joke? When the punchline becomes ap-parent!

The beauty of dad jokes is that they’re all about simple, good-natured fun. These groan-worthy puns and lighthearted one-liners remind us that jokes don’t have to be complicated to make an impact. It’s not just about the punchline—it’s about communicating to children that you want to share a moment of joy with them.

Top 50 funniest dad jokes

These silly anecdotes are guaranteed to get giggles (and a few eye rolls).

  1. What do you call a train full of bubble gum? A chew-chew train.
  2. What gets wetter the more it dries? A towel.
  3. Why did the banana go to the doctor? It wasn’t peeling well.
  4. How do you make a tissue dance? Put a little boogie in it.
  5. What do you call a snowman in summer? A puddle!
  6. Why was the broom late? It swept in!
  7. Knock, knock. Who’s there? Boo. Boo who? Don’t cry, it’s just a joke!
  8. What do you call cheese that isn’t yours? Nacho cheese!
  9. Why did the cookie go to the doctor? It felt crumby.
  10. What’s a frog’s favourite drink? Croak-a-cola.
  11. What did the ocean say to the shore? Nothing, it just waved.
  12. What do you call a cat on the beach? Sandy claws.
  13. How do you talk to a giant? Use big words!
  14. Why did the picture go to jail? It was framed!
  15. What do you call a bear with no teeth? A gummy bear.
  16. Why did the spider go on the computer? To check its web.
  17. Why did the tomato blush? Because it saw the salad dressing.
  18. What’s a ghost’s favourite dessert? Ice scream!
  19. Knock, knock. Who’s there? Owls. Owls who? Yes, they do!
  20. Why are fish so smart? Because they live in schools!
  21. Where do pirates get their hooks? Second-hand stores.
  22. What’s a cat’s favourite color? Purr-ple!
  23. What do you call a pig who knows karate? A pork chop.
  24. What kind of shoes do ninjas wear? Sneakers.
  25. What do you call a dog that can tell time? A watchdog!
  26. I think I took some cat medicine by mistake this morning. Don’t ask meow.
  27. What did one plate say to the other plate? Dinner’s on me!
  28. Why did the student eat his homework? Because his teacher said it was a piece of cake!
  29. Why do fish live in saltwater? Because pepper makes them sneeze!
  30. What’s a snake’s favourite subject in school? Hissss-tory!
  31. Why was the math book so sad? It had too many problems.
  32. What did the apple say to the orange? You’re a-peeling!
  33. Knock, knock. Who’s there? Lettuce. Lettuce who? Lettuce in, it’s cold out here
  34. Why don’t elephants use computers? They’re afraid of the mouse!
  35. Why did the car get a flat tire? There was a fork in the road.
  36. Why should you never brush your teeth with your left hand? Because a toothbrush works better!
  37. Why did Mickey Mouse become an astronaut? He wanted to visit Pluto.
  38. Knock, knock. Who’s there? Orange. Orange who? Orange you glad I came back?
  39. What do you call a rude cow? Beef jerky!
  40. How do you get a mouse to smile? Say cheese!
  41. What do you call a dancing cow? A milkshake!
  42. What do you call a sad strawberry? A blueberry!
  43. Where’s a place you should never take a dog? A flea market!
  44. Why was the nose sad? It was getting picked on.
  45. What’s the best kind of music to listen to when you’re fishing? Something catchy!
  46. Knock, knock. Who’s there? Olive. Olive who? Olive you and I miss you!
  47. What do you call an alligator in a vest? An investigator.
  48. What did one wall say to the other? I’ll meet you at the corner!
  49. Why did the rabbit go to the salon? It was having a bad hare day.
  50. What kind of sandals do frogs wear? Open-toad.

Want even more dad jokes? Keep scrolling.

A mom and little boy laugh together.

The pun-derful power of dad jokes

The cheesiest punchlines can lead to heartfelt bonds. A good (or terrible yet funny) joke can open up lines of communication and lighten the mood in stressful situations. Plus, joke-telling creates fun opportunities for children to express themselves.

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When parents use humour, they show their kids that it's okay to be silly—especially during tough times. “Dad jokes communicate a sense of warmth and approachability for children. And it shows kids that it’s okay to be a little silly and not to take yourself too seriously,” says dad blogger Chris Lewis, Dad of Divas.

And with so many digital distractions, it can be difficult to manage kids’ attention. Jokes are a great way to draw kids away from screens.

Want to really capture your kids' attention while showing you care? Try easy-to-understand jokes that relate to littles’ interests. Have a daughter who loves stuffed animals? Engage her with a quick quip: Why did your teddy bear skip dessert? She was stuffed.

Did your nephew get a new pet? Show you care about their four-legged friend: What do you call a cold puppy? A chilli dog.

How to choose age-appropriate dad jokes

The ultimate dad jokes ensure that kids understand and enjoy the humour without feeling left out or confused. Before you perfect your kid-friendly stand-up routine, take a moment to understand what’s funny to kids. Humour often aligns with their developmental stage.

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Babies laugh at behaviours that are not typical of adults, like exaggerated faces and games of peek-a-boo. Two-year-olds developing language skills enjoy giving objects unique names. Why did the sleepy pillow snuggle on the bed? Because it was ready for a nap!

By age three, kids like playing with the sounds of words, variations of common phrases and rhyming words. Why did the cow go to space? To see the moooon!

Around five, kids start telling nonsensical riddles and knock-knock jokes. Knock knock. Who’s there? Tank. Tank Who? You’re welcome!

And by seven, children find true riddles and jokes very humourous.

In general, focus on simplicity, relatability and clarity. This will help you find age-appropriate, clever jokes the whole family will love. “Even if it’s not the best dad joke, if the timing and atmosphere are right, an unexpected dad joke can make the moment—especially if you can subtly hide the joke in a relevant conversation,” says Kenny Deuss, of On Adventure With Dad.

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Here are a few tips

Keep it simple Kids respond best to simple language and straightforward punchlines. Avoid complex puns that use advanced vocabulary or require critical thinking. “Go for straightforward silliness, even if it’s not that original,” says Deuss. Why did the cow cross the road? To get to the moo-vies!

Relate to their interests Reference things children can easily imagine, like animals, food, school, or popular characters. The more relatable the joke is, the more likely they are to find it funny. Why can’t you give Elsa a balloon? Because she’ll let it go.

Steer clear of double meanings Young kids respond well to clear, innocent humour. So avoid jokes with double entendres or involved wordplay that can be misinterpreted.

Make use of repetition Repetitive setups and familiar rhythms are easier for kids to follow and enjoy. Knock, knock jokes work for a reason!

Test for groans Believe it or not, if a joke makes an adult’s eyes roll, it’s likely to make a child giggle. “Corny, wholesome, silly jokes tell kids, ‘I care about making you smile,’ even if it’s through a joke that’s groan-worthy,” says Matt Beauchamp, Dashing Dad.

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The art of delivery

A dad and son sit in the grass in a park. The father holds the son. They both laugh.

Picking the right joke for the audience is one thing, but how you tell it is crucial to its effectiveness. “The main tip to delivering a dad joke to kids is committing,” says Beauchamp.

“You need to be all in on the joke. Whether that’s adding silly voices, the right emphasis or actions, if you’re having fun, kids will pick up on that energy.” Master your comedy routine with these tricks.

  • Make sure you’re enthusiastic when telling a joke, as kids feed off your energy. Playful expressions, an excited tone and big gestures will draw them in.
  • Use silly sounds, rhyming and wordplay to make the joke more engaging.
  • Maintain eye contact to keep kids’ focus. If you’re telling a joke to a group, shift your gaze often so everyone feels included.
  • Keep the atmosphere playful and fun. If you mess up a joke, laugh at yourself. Children love it when you don’t take yourself too seriously.
  • Remember the importance of timing. Pausing before the punchline builds anticipation, and when you deliver it, do it with energy!
  • Quit while you’re ahead. If a joke works and they laugh, don’t overdo it—let the laughter settle before you move on.

Developing little comedians

Children love to laugh and play, but how do you teach them the art of joke-telling?

Be the brunt of the joke Kids love to reference goofy or embarrassing stories about adults. Be the guinea pig and allow yourself to be a character in their jokes.

Listen to your kid Everyone has a different sense of humour, so let them cultivate their own style rather than push a specific structure. Offer different topics and see if they can add their own experiences to form a joke.

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Teach by example Children emulate their parents, so having a good sense of humour yourself is key to encouraging their love of laughter. Simply joking around with kids is a great way to teach them to tell jokes.

Encourage reading Joke books are an excellent way to stir inspiration. They can teach kids how to deliver a punchline and help them hone in on what tickles them.

Be a good audience Laugh a lot at your child’s first attempts at humour to build their confidence. Joke around with them to reinforce a sense of fun and an understanding of what’s funny and what’s not.

“Starting with short jokes they can remember is a good first step, while modelling that it’s okay to laugh at yourself as well,” says Beauchamp. “Celebrate their efforts even if the joke doesn’t make sense, while also reinforcing that it’s not okay to make fun of people or make people feel bad with their jokes.”

More great dad jokes

  1. Why did the cookie go to the doctor? It felt crumby.
  2. What do you call a sleeping dinosaur? A dino-snore!
  3. How do you make a robot angry? Keep pushing its buttons!
  4. Why was six afraid of seven? Because seven eight nine!
  5. Why did the melon jump into the lake? It wanted to be a watermelon!
  6. How do you organize a party in space? You planet!
  7. How do you make a lemon drop? Just let it fall!
  8. Why don’t seagulls fly over the bay? Because then they’d be bagels!
  9. Why did the kid bring a ladder to school? To go to high school!
  10. What do you call a sleeping cow? A bulldozer.
  11. What do you get when you cross a snowman with a vampire? Frostbite.
  12. Why did the skeleton not go to the party? He had nobody to go with!
  13. What’s a pirate’s favourite exercise? The plank!
  14. What do you call a funny mountain? Hill-arious!
  15. What did the farmer say when he bought two ducks and a cow? Now I have quackers and milk!
  16. What falls in winter but never gets hurt? Snow!
  17. What do you do when a dinosaur sneezes? Get out of the way!
  18. How do you fix a broken pumpkin? With a pumpkin patch!
  19. What did the tree say in spring? What a re-leaf!
  20. How does a penguin build its house? Igloos it together.
  21. Who comes to a picnic but is never invited? Ants.
  22. What do you call a cat that fibs? A lion
  23. How do birds learn to fly? They wing it.
  24. What do you call the horse that lives next door? Your neigh-bour.
  25. How do celebrities stay cool? They have many fans.

Balancing humour and appropriateness

When it comes to jokes, especially with kids, there’s a fine line between what’s funny and what’s appropriate. Jokes can be misinterpreted if they cross boundaries that children don’t quite yet understand.

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Choose dad jokes that are fun but not hurtful or confusing. Avoid those that promote harmful stereotypes or behaviours. You have to be aware of the impact your joke might have, says Casey Palmer. “Something that might work well as a family joke may be construed differently if it's a peer-to-peer conversation.”

When it comes to sensitive topics like race, gender or physical appearance, humour should be avoided. Jokes about these topics often reinforce negative stereotypes or make light of people’s misfortunes. For example, a joke about a child’s clothing may hurt their feelings.

Instead, focus on common themes such as food, friendship, and school life. Guide your kids toward humour that promotes understanding and respect.  That way you can enjoy laughs while helping them develop essential social skills.

Can dad jokes teach more than just laughter?

Dad jokes are much more than a source of laughter—they’re tools for learning, emotional growth and social development. “Joking around is very important for a kids’ development,” says Deuss. “Not only does it help language development, it also teaches social skills and helps a lot with problem-solving and critical thinking.”

Clever wordplay and puns can help children develop their vocabulary. Dad jokes can also help children understand cause and effect, patterns and timing. When children hear a joke, they process the setup and then attempt to predict the punchline. This strengthens their cognitive abilities.

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Sharing jokes can aid children in building social connections, too. They bond with their peers over shared experiences of laughter. “My kids have come to expect dad jokes from me on a regular basis. They have started to share the dad jokes at school with friends, and then those friends share it with their friends,” says Palmer. And by embedding morals in jokes, parents can communicate important life lessons, while keeping the tone playful.

In the classroom, dad jokes can help foster good relationships between teachers and their students. Weaving humour into lessons can help grab attention, keep students focused and make dry material more exciting. Why was the math book so sad? It had too many problems!

Jokes signal that it’s okay to make mistakes and laugh at silly moments. This encourages kids to participate without fear of judgment. A well-suited dad joke is a great way to create an environment where learning and laughter go hand in hand.

Connecting generations through humour

When people laugh together, it helps them see each other as equals, regardless of age. Dad jokes can help break down barriers between generations as funny, universal experiences are relatable to everyone. Older generations can share their experiences with younger ones in a fun way.

For example, a grandparent can tell a funny story about how things were when they were young, offering kids insight into their life. Ultimately, humour naturally helps people feel more comfortable around each other. “There’s nothing like a good joke to lighten the mood and make kids feel more comfortable expressing themselves,” says Lewis.

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How to make your own family joke book

A joke book is a great way to preserve memories and keep the laughs coming. Encourage your kids to think creatively and contribute to themed joke creation. Topics might include animal antics, weather, family traditions and fantasy vacations. Not to mention that sharing kids’ jokes can be a riot down the road.

Laughter is a great way to strengthen family bonds, relieve tension and create lasting memories. When families contribute to a communal joke book, they build a lasting connection that goes far beyond words.

Experts

This article was originally published on Jan 22, 2025

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