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.
Dead stinkbug saved the day?
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I don’t know about you, but we are on our THIRD virus within a month. Over it!! 😩 Yesterday was just one of those days where I felt tempted to go into “woe is me” mode (and I did slip into it a few times, let’s be honest!) One super random thing that helped me a little bit was a game I played in my own head throughout the day… and it all started with a stinkbug lying dead on the floor next to the couch. For some reason the phrase “Stinkbug Revival” popped into my head (don’t ask why because I don’t know!) - and my next thought was “Yep, that sounds like a band name.” For the rest of the day, I challenged myself to look for funny band names inspired by my very mundane day, just to put a little fun and creativity into it Some were:
Coming up with weird pretend band names is one of my favorite pastimes because there’s literally no wrong answer and pretty much anything you ever think of could very well be a band name. My invitation for you this week: 1. Stay healthy if you can help it!! 2. Try the band name game, even if it’s just in your own head, especially on a hard day - and if you think of a good one reply back to this email and tell me!! (I love this game haha) 3. If you want more inspiration for creative, improv-inspired games, here’s your reminder about FAMPROV! It’ll be released March 19, but you can pre-order now at an early bird price - tap that link to learn more about it and watch the promo vid! Cheering you on always, Mia P.S. Lots of folks were curious about Steve winning an Emmy last week - it was for his work on some projects for the football team he works for! 🥰 MORE FROM PLAYFUL HEART PARENTING: PRE-ORDER FAMPROV: Family improv games for connection! A digital library with demonstration videos, explanations of over 70 improv games to bring you closer together through laughter, creativity. Simple, creative apps + printable card decks with 1400+ prompts 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.
I’m writing this sandwiched between two sweaty snoring babies so I’m keeping it short (Okay so they’re 4 and almost 2 but… I’m still calling them babies, okay?? 😭) If you know me you know I lovvvve my word-a-time games like One Word Story/Commercial/Complaint Letter/Love Letter… Add “One Word Warning” to the top of the list because it’s our new fave. You simply make up a ridiculous warning together by alternating every other word. When I played with my stepdaughter (10) the other night the...
In case you missed it... a couple months back I shared a video of my stepdaughter and me playing our favorite game: "One Word Commercial," where we make up a fake commercial on the spot, trading off every other word. It ended being about ointment for an itchy butt... but with lots of disastrous side effects. The video went viral, with folks chiming in with their own playful comments and excitement to try this with their own families (yay!!) (If you want to watch it after you read the rest of...
The other night, when I was fatigued and had a sore throat, my stepdaughter (10) said, “Hey. You’re not happy. Let’s play a game.” Ohhh that made my heart so happy that she noticed this and wanted to play to cheer me up with a game—our favorite way to connect! 🥹 AND, I didn’t know if I had much capacity to even talk… and most of our favorite games require a bit of that. My son (4) then said, “I know what we should play!” and he ran over with a piece of paper and pen. “The drawing a person...