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 was so proud of my stepdaughter for doing this weird thing
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Yesterday while I was on a call upstairs, my stepdaughter (10) ran up and said, “Mia, look! My nose changed” She was grinning, holding up a wrinkly piece of skin-colored clay that she’d shaped into a fake, pointy witch-looking nose. “Yes!! Put a wart on that thing, poke two holes in the side, and throw it in the oven. I’ll add string to it for you so you can wear it!” I said excitedly. She was thrilled. Several hours later, we put the finishing touches on her freshly baked witch nose and were cracking up, taking turns wearing it (jump scare pic of me below for proof): Even my toddler got in on it, grasping for it with her favorite phrase, “I need it!” When I reflected on this later on while lying in bed, I realized why this made me SO happy she’d done this. She’s at an age where kids start to worry more about what they look like and how they’re perceived. She’s got three teenage sisters who are on social media. Sometimes I worry she’ll lose her childlike playful spark, that willingness to be weird and goofy in exchange for appearing “cool.” But I think I’m projecting that on her. Because I did. Middle school was rough. I was introverted as can be (believe it or not, I still kind of am in many social settings). Didn’t have many friends and felt very embarrassed of my “weirdness” unless I was home being silly with my family. This witch nose moment snapped me back into reality: she IS still a kid. She is not afraid of being weird or silly. And even when she inevitably feels some pressure to be “cool” or hide her silliness in public… She’ll always know it’s safe to be her whole self here in our home. My invitation for you this week (a little deeper than my usual ones): Reflect on your own childhood. Was there a time you can remember being embarrassed of your silly side? I wonder what it would feel like to speak to that little you inside and let them know that that part is safe to come out now. Cheering you on always, Mia 💞 MORE FROM PLAYFUL HEART PARENTING: The best improv games for family connection! Prompt-based games and easy, silly moment ideas (1500+ prompts and counting!) 11 core strategies for using play as a tool for more ease and joy in parenting. |
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.
My sis and her partner were here this past weekend and as usual there were lots of laughs.(If you’ve seen our FAMPROV videos… you know exactly the vibe!) Yesterday on the drive home from a park, my son (4) asked to play “Plot Twist” - making up a story together using prompts from my app.It ended up being one of my favorite little parts of the whole visit, because “Aunt Naddy” and “Tuncle” (tío + uncle) are professional improv performers and just so happen to be endlessly creative, hilarious,...
I recently got back into doing at-home dance workouts. Aside from walking, this is truly the only form of exercise I enjoy, and it’s been YEARS. Why do I love it so much? Because it’s fun, challenging in an enjoyable way, and brings back a big part of myself (the performer part)! But what I didn’t expect to happen was for it to become a new bonding activity for me and my 10yo stepdaughter! Surprisingly, she’s taken an interest in doing the dance workouts with me when she’s here, and I have to...
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...