Quick, honest reflections on parenting, playfulness, and finding more joy in everyday family life, each with one simple idea to try. Browse the latest reads below, and subscribe to never miss one in your inbox each Tuesday.
If you can hear my voice, do the Macarena
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Did your teachers in school ever do the classic “If you can hear my voice, clap once…” thing? As a theatre educator, I did similar calls for students to pay attention but tried to mix things up to keep it more fun and less robotic… Like, “If you can hear my voice…
Now at home with my son, I use the exact same strategy when it seems like he's tuning me out. The tuning out ESPECIALLY happens after I say something like “Keep your hands and body to yourself” after he’s been playing too rough with little sis… …and I suspect there’s often a layer of shame in having to be corrected that makes it hard for him to respond to me directly. So, this is the PERFECT strategy for moments like that! He almost always does! Which instantly bypasses the power struggle, gets us both laughing, and snaps us right out of tension mode. My invitation for you this week: Next time you feel like you might be heading towards a power struggle, try asking for what you need in a silly way. Let me know if you try something! I love getting inspired by your playful wins. Cheering you on always, Mia 💞 p.s true story: my dance professor in college is actually named Macarena and she is incredible!!! 💃🏻 MORE FROM PLAYFUL HEART PARENTING: Never wonder how to turn the moment around again. Instant games, hilarious ideas, and printable activities that make connection easy. Apps for any device + printable cards. Learn 70+ ridiculously fun improv games that naturally create laughter, connection, eye contact, listening, and imagination. Video demonstrations + printable guidebook. Turn everyday parenting challenges into moments of laughter, connection, and cooperation. Private podcast course + community. |
The Playful Heart Journal
Quick, honest reflections on parenting, playfulness, and finding more joy in everyday family life, each with one simple idea to try. Browse the latest reads below, and subscribe to never miss one in your inbox each Tuesday.
We were listening to old plot twist recordings in the car the other day (silly stories we made up together in the plot twist app that’s included in the Silly Moments Bundle) and one in particular made me teary-eyed. It was a story about a fox named “Hedge Barnit” (my son comes up with the best character names). The fox constantly knocked things over with his tail, so all the forest creatures would say “Oh, darn it, here comes Hedge Barnit) when they noticed him coming… Aside from laughing at...
I sent my friend Jen my new free Play Break Bingo sheet (25 squares of silly play ideas) as soon as I'd finished it... and she sent me back a video of her acting out one of the "Make This Face" prompts which said "You just tooted and it sounded exactly like 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star'" Her interpretation was so hilarious and delightful I laughed out loud and immediately felt some of my stress from the day melt away. She challenged me to another bingo square that says "Make This Face: You...
I'm not going to lie to you. Things were pretty tense in my household over the weekend. Mostly due to me having some pent-up frustrations and stress and just unleashing it on everyone all at once. When those kind of moments/days/weekends happen in my home there's a weird thing that happens in my brain which sounds something like: "Wow, Mia. Who's playful now? If only your community could see the real you being an absolute tornado of grumpiness and seriousness right now! You're such a fraud!!"...