I’m a mom, stepmom, and theatre educator helping exhausted parents access their inner creative playfulness for more connection and joy. No messy crafts, complicated setups, or sensory bins here! Just simple, silly moments that bring your family back together through laughter. My short weekly emails share reflections from real life and a simple invitation you can try for yourself or with your kids.
Cried (laughing) before even getting out of bed
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I posted a video on Instagram before I went to bed Sunday night and woke up to THOUSANDS of comments on it… As I briefly skimmed through, I started laughing so hard (but trying to stifle the laughter because all the kids — yes, ALL — were in our bed) I nudged Steve and pointed for him to read some too and we were both giggling so hard. The video was my stepdaughter and me playing one of our favorite games where we tell a story one word at a time (trading off each word) but we were making up a “commercial” on the spot. The product wound up being an ointment for itchy butts (no surprise it went there) and side effects included: flying, uncontrollable screaming, diarrhea, and farts. We laughed so hard playing this game but what I didn’t expect was how hard I was going to laugh at the comments!!! Things like … “Take my money!!” (With hilarious GIFS) “Oh no, there flies Susan with her uncontrollable screaming, diarrhea, and farts again. She must be using that new butt ointment again!” … and it went so viral that an ACTUAL company that makes a butt balm messaged me and offered to send me some 🤣🤣🤣 (I said yes). But there were also comments like this: “I’m so mad I just dropped the kids off at school because I want to be playing this with them right now!!” And “I am so excited to play games like this with my kids one day when I become a parent.” 🥹 Now THAT’S the spirit. 👏👏👏 That’s why I started all this!! Because so many parents *think* they dread play, but they don’t, really. They’re just not finding the type of play that connects them to THEIR inner child. And while this particular improv game is too advanced for little kids, there are absolutely ways to modify it! For example, instead of switching off every word, try switching off every sentence or every few sentences! Or YOU tell a story and pause for your little one to fill in the blank (like an on-the-spot Mad Libs!) (Reminder: my app bundle includes Plot Twist, which helps you come up with a silly creative story together and lets you record and save it!) Games that spark OUR creativity and that call for us to truly collaborate with our kids are the best for connection through play. My invitation for you this week: Take a moment to think about what feels fun for YOU. Is there a type of game you genuinely find fun? Is there a way to adapt it to play with your child? Or can you play with your partner or a friend and let your child see? Cheering you on always, Mia P.S. HAPPY (almost) NEW YEAR!!! MORE FROM PLAYFUL HEART PARENTING: Simple, creative apps that take the brainwork out and put connection and laughter in. Playful strategies for navigating everyday parenting challenges and reducing power struggles. |
Playful Heart Parenting
I’m a mom, stepmom, and theatre educator helping exhausted parents access their inner creative playfulness for more connection and joy. No messy crafts, complicated setups, or sensory bins here! Just simple, silly moments that bring your family back together through laughter. My short weekly emails share reflections from real life and a simple invitation you can try for yourself or with your kids.
this is what me dropping the ball looks like today: Yep. Snuggling the kiddos who didn’t sleep well. Normally I work late at night when they’re asleep (and in any nook and cranny of the day I get) But baby girl couldn’t settle last night. So I planned for early this morning. I’d get up before everyone else, write this week’s email, edit and post content for the day to Instagram, and we’d be good! but nope! This morning, everyone is still on top me me. and I realize: it is a HUGE privilege to...
Hanukkah begins soon, and I wanted to share something special that I put together! A big thank you to Jen, a wonderful mom from our community, who gave me the nudge to create this and helped me review it too. My mother grew up celebrating Hanukkah and we honored the holiday when I was a child, while also celebrating Christmas from my dad’s side. Christmas traditions are what I know most naturally, but Hanukkah has always held a meaningful place in my family story. My grandfather fled...
For November, I drew a cute turkey on the chalkboard pantry door and wrote “Grateful For…” and we each added things throughout the month. Come December, I felt a little sad to wipe it away. Then I thought, “Wait! Maybe we can just do a different theme each month!” So I drew a snowman and wrote “Snow Silly” and decided to write down silly things that happen that make us laugh! (Very on brand, I know). The first thing was me kissing our dog Nike under the mistletoe (because it was making my son...