Lea has learned about the existence of knock-knock jokes. She does not, however, fully understand the concept. Her exploration of this form of humor has gone through a couple of rounds… and still has a ways to go.
Iteration 1
Lea: “Knock knock!”
Me: “Who’s there?”
Lea: (giggles hysterically; end of joke.)
Iteration 2
Me: “Knock knock!”
Lea: “Who’s there?”
Me: “Orange!”
Lea: “Orange who?”
Me: “Orange you a cutie!”
Lea: “Orange you a cutie who?”
Iteration 3
Lea: “Knock knock!”
Me: “Who’s there?”
Lea: “Orange!”
Me: “Orange who?”
Lea: “Orange pumpkin!”
Iteration 4
Me: “Knock knock!”
Lea: “Who’s there?”
Me: “Police!”
Lea: “Can I say knock knock? CAN I??”
Iteration 5
Lea: “Knock knock!”
Me: “Who’s there?”
Lea: “Orange!”
Me: “Orange who?”
Lea: “Orange police!”
8 Comments
LOL.
My nephew’s (a long time ago) version was:
Joel: Knock knock
Me: Who’s there?
Joel: Joel!
Me: Joel who?
Joel: Joel Dresnick!! (his name)
I remember that stage. Then we told our son one of my wife’s favorites:
Mom: Knock, knock!
Son: Who’s there?
Mom: The interrupting cow.
Son: The inter—
Mom: MOO!
So he thinks he’s got it. He’s ready to tell it:
Son: Knock, knock!
Mom: Who’s there?
Son: The interrupting cow.
Mom: The interrupting [uh-oh] cooooooooooooooooowwwww wwwwwwhhhhhhhhoooooooooooo?
Son: MOO! Oh, wait, you went too fast! Waaaaahh!
FInally, he gets it, and starts picking different animals. Little sister wants in on the act, too:
Daughter: Knock, knock!
Me: Who’s there?
Daughter: The intipping cow.
Me: The interrupting cow who?
Daughter: MOO! hehehehhehehe
Son: That wasn’t the interrupting cow, that was her cousin, the POLITE COW! hahahahahahaha
Oh, well, at least I haven’t yet been asked what time it is when an elephant sits on your watch.
I think it’s not an uncommon stage of Child Humor Acquisition for knock-knock jokes to run like that. Though Lea’s are singularly adorable.
It’s postmodern avant-garde humor, deconstructing the very essence of the knock-knock joke. She’s an artist ahead of her time.
That would definitely explain some of the ironwork sculpture she’s created in her bedroom…
Ah, preschooler wit. So well-meaning and so inept (or avant-garde) at the same time.
My son’s personal favorite gets abused because instead of, say, three iterations, he’ll opt for 15:
Knock-knock.
Who’s there?
Banana.
Banana who?
Knock-knock.
Who’s there?
Banana.
Banana.
Banana who?
Knock-knock.
Who’s there?
Banana.
Banana who?
Knock-knock.
Who’s there?
Orange.
Orange who?
Orange you glad I didn’t say banana?
I’m fond of:
A: Knock knock!
B: Oh, it’s you.
We turned the knock-knock joke into a Family Tradition when my now-6-year old daughter was three or four. I still say it every day with her and with our 3-year old daughter.
Bedtime version -
Knock, knock.
Who’s there?
See-ya
See-ya who?
See ya in the morning!
This grew into the “Mom leaves for work” version -
Knock, knock.
Who’s there?
See-ya
See-ya who?
See ya when you get back!
The 3-year old added her own note to them last year, by ending them with a hearty “a-hooo!” which is now a permanent part of the gag. We say the jokes in unison and the chorus of “See you when you get back, ahooo!” somehow makes it funnier.
If I must leave my kids, at sleep-time or during the day, I like leaving them – and me – with the smile this joke always gets!
Thanks, Eric, for your site (which I’ve been reading for ages) and best wishes on the publication of your book.