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.
The simple game that helped 10yo with school jitters
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My 10yo stepdaughter was feeling too nervous to eat breakfast before school. School-related anxiety is a thing we’ve been navigating for about two years now, and it ebbs and flows. Reasoning with her and telling her she had to eat was only making her cry and resist more. So I said how about we play a game to help your mind move through this? And if you can, eat some while we play? I was grateful she instantly agreed… we’ve done this before and she knows it helps. She chose “word ball” - a simple word association game where: - one person says a random word - the next person repeats that word, then says whatever word pops into their mind based off the word that was just said - And passes it back to the first person who does the same thing Example: - Beans… - Beans… fart - Fart… stink - Stink… trash - Trash… can - Can… can of worms… No right or wrong answers. The goal is to not anticipate your next word, but to truly base it off whatever word is said in the moment. This helped her almost instantly, and even got her laughing. She was able to eat some breakfast and leave for school in a good mood. Playfulness does not have to be overtly silly or wildly energetic to be impactful and help us be present with each other. And presence is the enemy of anxiety. Did I just make that up?! Please tell me yes. My invitation for you this week: Try the word association game! It’s such a simple tool for coming into the present moment. (I literally play this game in my own head to fall asleep at night when my mind is racing and it works like a charm!) And if you want more improv games for presence and connection with your family, here’s your reminder that I have a whoooole video library and guide full of my favorites (FAMPROV: family improv games for connection). Cheering you on always, Mia 💞 P.S. Last reminder! If you are an Activate Play Mode member, we just moved our community onto the Circle app and it's AWESOME! This is included with your APM purchase, no matter when you grabbed it, so if you haven't seen an invite from me, reply here and I'll make sure to get you in there. 🥰 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 help you be present with your family. 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.
“Mom, you’re being a little bit meaner than usual,” said my son, sniffling in the backseat. UGH. He was right. 😮💨 We'd been running late (a stress trigger for me), he was emotional and having a hard time getting ready, I’d been up working since 5 a.m., and, in hindsight, I’d barely eaten anything. Apparently you’re supposed to consume 5 billion grams of protein before drinking coffee. I usually do it the other way around... 5 billion grams of coffee first. Anyway, none of my usual playful...
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...