I’m in the AI Storytelling community and working on ideas for our about page. Which video do you prefer:

Today’s activity is not really for the kids. It is for us. At some point in the next day or two, watch for a small moment of frustration during play, chores, creative work, or everyday problem-solving. Nothing serious. We are not talking about distress that needs adult intervention. We are looking for the ordinary kinds of friction that show up when something will not cooperate, a plan falls apart, or a child does not get the result they expected. When that moment comes, try this: Pause before you help. Give the moment a little breathing room. Notice what your child does. Do they immediately ask for help? Do they try again? Do they groan, blame the object, or declare the whole thing impossible? Do they look toward you before deciding what they think? You don’t have to stand silently like a statue. You can stay nearby. You can acknowledge what happened. You can say something like, “That didn’t go the way you wanted,” or “I can see why that was frustrating.” But resist the urge to solve the problem before they have had a chance to respond to it themselves. The goal is not to withhold support. The goal is to make sure our support does not arrive so quickly that it replaces their own next move. Additional suggestions by age: For ages 3–6 Young children often experience frustration with their whole bodies. A block tower falls and they may cry, fling a piece, or walk away dramatically. Stay close and name the moment without rebuilding for them. You might say something like, “Oh, that tower fell hard. You worked on that.” Then wait. If they turn toward you, you can ask, “Do you want to try again, or do you want a little break first?” For ages 7–12 At this age, frustration often sounds like, “This is stupid,” “I can’t do it,” or “It cheated.” Before offering a strategy, give them a chance to make sense of what happened. You might say something like, “That was a hard round,” or “Something about that didn’t work the way you expected.” Then pause. If they are still stuck, ask, “What do you think you want to try next?”

Here’s a fun activity I would play with my kids when we traveled. It ties in great with yesterday’s prompt of myth making and storytelling. When playing at home, everyone builds on the story by adding a sentence or idea. I would designate one person as scribe. The scribe writes down the story and reads it back at the end and also plays. For our online version, I’ll start the story and everyone gets to add a sentence. Rules: - One sentence at a time - You can add more than one sentence but they can’t be in a row. - Copy the existing story into a comment and add your sentence. Story ends at 11:59 pm CDT today. I’ll start. Tagging a few to get us started. Thanks @Allan R. for the first sentence. @Daniel Cavaretta @Adam Formanek @Betty Jo Winters @Mayelice Castro @Andrea Quintal Portas @Anna Brown @Janell Bitton @Blue Mojo @Celia Kibler @Charlie Svensson @Aurelie Delahalle @Gus Gray @Max Orlewicz @Lisa Vanderveen @Mukkove Johnson

For this activity, we aren't using instruments. We are finding the "rhythm of our own history" and comparing it to global traditions. Gather Your Gear Two "found" items in your house (a wooden spoon and a plastic tub, two smooth stones, or even a set of keys). Get Started 1. Search online for "Traditional percussion from [Region]" (Try West African Djembe, Japanese Taiko, or Irish Bodhrán). I added a clip of Ghanaian drummers as an example. 2. Listen for 2 minutes. Notice the "weight" of the sound. Is it heavy and slow, light and fast, or something else? 3. Try to mimic the rhythm you just heard using your household items. Don't worry about being a "musician." Just try to catch the "swing" of the beat. The Twist: The "Eyes-Closed Sync." Close your eyes and try to keep a steady beat in time with your child for 30 seconds. Without being able to see each other, you have to "feel" the rhythm. If you get off track, just laugh, reset, and find the beat again. Options for Older Kids: Ages 12–14 (The Sampling Scientist): Have them find a modern song they like and search to see if it "sampled" a traditional melody or rhythm from another culture. Discuss how history is "remixed" through music. Ages 15–17 (The Rhythm of Resistance): Search for "Songs that changed history." Look at music used in global social movements. Ask: "Why is music often the first tool people use when they want to lift the 'pressure' of an unfair system?" Your Turn Which percussion style did you explore? What "found instrument" in your house had the best sound? Bonus! I’ve added clips from one of my favorite old school drummers, Buddy Rich and one modern era Rick Allen. Do you have a favorite drummer?

What a week it’s been and thank you to everyone who has shared their favorite meals, shown us where they live, and welcomed new members with open arms. For those who joined game night, thank you. I had a blast. For those asking about future game nights, we are scheduling one in two weeks and looking for a day time option for our friends in Europe and Australia. Today is baking day, and I’ll be offline much of the day. I’m trying my hand at chocolate babka. The process started last night. Since I’m attempting to be a bread baker, I’d love for all of you to jump in with your own posts. Share a tip, ask a question, share a game. I’ll be checking in later. Wish me luck with the bread.