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.
Playing silly games over text with my friend gave me LIFE
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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 just sat on a sharp rock but you're trying to be quiet because there's a sleeping baby nearby," so of course I dropped everything and sent one back.  Jen and I both turn 40 next month and we were giggling like little kids. The next day, she suggested we do another square, which was to make up a story based on the title, "Dave the Dragon Who Wanted To Be a Chef," taking turns every few sentences. As I cleaned up from breakfast and immediately fetched more snacks for the kids (iykyk) I went back and forth with Jen, texting videos of us adding on a few sentences at a time to the story. My 2yo and 4yo were zooming around playing, wrestling, drawing on the chalkboard wall, and turning the house upside down... but every time Jen and I were telling part of the story their ears would perk up. They were enjoying it just as much as Jen and I were, just from observing!  The next day, we played ANOTHER game together over text. This time we just made up our own silly acting prompts for each other. Even though I was running late to meet friends at the zoo, I stopped to play for a second because I had been reminded the previous couple days how much these silly interactions had given me LIFE and put me in such a good mood. My friend Bryana Kappadakunnel aka @consciousmommy once said that we adults are "dehydrated" when it comes to playfulness. We don't even realize how thirsty we are for it until we start playing a bit and remembering how good it feels. Ain't it the truth!? My invitation for you this week: Step One: Download my new FREE Play Break Bingo if you haven't yet! Step Two: Challenge a friend to try one of the prompts over text. Try a mini-game with your partner and let the kids observe you being silly and laughing together freely. And of course, invite your kids to point to a square and try one. Cheering you on always, Mia More from Playful Heart Parenting:Want a little help putting playfulness into practice? The Playful Heart Collection brings all of my favorite tools together in one place — including Activate Play Mode, FAMPROV family improv games, and the Silly Moments Bundle — with thousands of simple ideas to help you laugh more, connect more, and enjoy everyday life with your kids. P.S. In case you missed my email about this the other day, I just added A Year of Silly Moments to the Silly Moments Bundle — 12 MORE printable Bingo sheets, one for every month of the year! Already have the bundle? You should have an email from me with the new PDF, and they're also waiting for you at the bottom of the app... just refresh if you don't see it! 💞 |
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.
My parents and sister were visiting the other day for my son's birthday (he's 5 now!!! 😭), and I asked my 78-year-old dad if he wanted to try my silly drawing prompt app, "What Should We Doodle"... Let's just say he understood the assignment. 😂 My sister pulled up the app and tapped the "gross stuff" category to give him a doodle challenge. His first mission was to draw a "sticky clump of earwax riding a skateboard." He spent so long on it and was cracking himself up in the process. so much...
My parents and sis were in town this past weekend and, as usual, we played improv games. And, as usual, I laughed so hard I screamed, cried, and... got a hangover!? (No alcohol involved). Yes, the other night, my sister made me laugh to the point of tears... my kids looked concerned at one point. What was the game that got me so good, you ask? TV Talking. We've been playing since we were little kids and, yep, here I am about to turn 40 and we still play every chance we get. All you do is mute...
"Can you play a quick game with me pleeeease?" I asked my husband before bedtime the other night. (I wanted to demonstrate one of the games from the Halloween freebie!) It had been a REALLY long work day for him so, rightfully so, he was a little reluctant but agreed. What a guy! 😍 I closed my eyes, pointed to a random square on the sheet, and landed on a silly family storytelling game: CHALLENGE: Make up a story together, taking turns every few sentences. Use this title to get you started:...