Reasons we've been spiraling over here:

Our town was hit with a severe ice storm and we lost power for 12 hours...

We are so grateful because so many are still without power in Nashville and are having to seek shelter.

To top it off, we’ve got sick kiddos. (like, throw-up sick and I have emetophobia... not fun)

And we’re feeling the weight of the world.

So last night when my stepdaughter started spiraling about something else entirely, at first I was thinking…

“come on, pleeease… everything already feels really rough right now can we please just not add on another person spiraling?!”

But after we talked a bit, she started to come out of it and then said, “Mia, can we keep talking?” 🥺

I realized she just really needed the connection.

“Yeah, do you want to keep talking-talking or do you want to play like a talking game?” I said.

She said game.

So we started with a really simple one - Animal Chain.

How to play ANIMAL CHAIN: One person names an animal. The next person then names an animal that starts with the last letter of the previous one.

Example: Rabbit… Turtle… Elephant

My husband clearly wanted to get in on it because he kept making animal sounds as clues when we’d get stumped, so we looped him in.

Then, when we were all getting stumped, I got an idea:

“Okay, new rule: If you can’t think of an animal within five seconds, you have to make one up but do your best to sound confident like it’s a real one!”

Suddenly the game got a whole lot funnier (and therefore more fun) because it was now more of an improv game/a creative challenge!

My favorite was “elongated snakefish sucker” 😂

Then, she wanted to play one more word game. So I suggested word ball...

How to play WORD BALL: Pretend to throw and catch an imaginary ball back and forth. The first person starts with a random word that they “throw” to the next person.

The next person then “catches” the word ball, and repeats the word that was thrown, then throws the ball back with whatever word that pops into their mind based on the word they just caught.

For example,​
Player one says “potato” and pretends to throw the ball.
Player two “catches” it, repeats “potato,” then throws it back saying “chip”
Player one catches, repeats “chip,” and throws it back saying “bag…”

The only “rule” is that you’re not supposed to anticipate your word ahead of time, so that you’re really listening to each other and staying in the present moment with each other.

It's good practice in not overthinking and challenging to speed it up!

And that’s the best thing about improv-inspired games... they rely on connection and being in the present moment with each other.

It’s good for our brains and especially helpful when we’re stuck, in a funk, or spiraling.

I hope this helps someone out there this week!!

My invitation for you this week:

Try one of these games with your kids, your partner, a friend…

OR (hear me out): inside your own head!

Sometimes I even play word games like this inside my own head to help me fall asleep when my mind won’t stop racing. It really helps me!

Take care of yourselves and each other. 💞

Cheering you on always,

Mia

P.S. In case you missed it, here's my new Valentine's freebie! Just tap the link below to download and print!

(If you grabbed last year’s Valentine’s resource, this is a new one that has a few of the same games!)

​My Funny Valentine.pdf ​

MORE FROM PLAYFUL HEART PARENTING:

​PRE-ORDER FAMPROV: Family improv games for connection! A digital library with demonstration videos, explanations of over 70 improv games to bring you closer together through laughter, creativity. ​​

​PHP APPS BUNDLE​

Simple, creative apps + printable card decks with 1400+ prompts that take the brainwork out and put connection and laughter in!

​ACTIVATE PLAY MODE:​

Playful strategies for navigating everyday parenting challenges and reducing power struggles.