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.
The tables have turned!
|
This past weekend was full of a lot of big emotions for one of our kiddos and it was a bit of a roller coaster for us all. We’ve been looking for as many moments as possible to lean into playfulness—and it’s been so helpful! I was surprised when my stepdaughter said, “Oh, I made up my own fun game today!” She then taught us her new original game, which I’ll now teach to YOU! (She was very excited when I promised to email it out to everyone 🥰) “What’s the World Record…?” How to play:
No wrong answers! You can look it up if it sounds like something there might really be a world record for (like how we looked up the longest anyone went without a shower - 60 years!). It’s just meant to be funny, imaginative, and hopefully lead to more conversation! Examples from our night:
Even though she didn’t understand, 1.5yo was laughing along every time we laughed. 🥹 My invitation for you this week: Try this new game brought to you by my brilliant 10yo stepdaughter! And above all… keep modeling family connection through play. It matters. Cheering you on always, Mia P.S. Our Activate Play Mode private online community is now open for free to all who’ve taken the course! It’s a safe place to brainstorm playful solutions and share ideas with other parents from around the world who are actively pursuing a more playful approach in general and especially when it comes to tasks, routines, and general day-to-day challenges. I also give easy little weekly check-ins and play moment invitations. If you’ve purchased the course, check your email for an invitation from me to the community! And if you’re interested in joining, the link is below! MORE FROM PLAYFUL HEART PARENTING: Family improv games for connection! A digital library with demonstration videos plus printable guide of fun improv games to bring you closer together through laughter and creativity. Simple, creative apps + printable card decks with 1400+ prompts that take the brainwork out and put connection and laughter in! Audio course + community: 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 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...
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...