Hey Everyone, I’ll be heading home today after a very successful Homeschool Conference. Our speaker sessions went well, our Discovery Toys booth was a success, and most important, I met some very fascinating people who may also be joining us for Unplug & Play our community event happening right here from August 16-22. For those of you new to the community, Unplug & Play will feature a mix of live interviews with parenting experts, hands-on sessions for games, language, crafts, and more and a few surprises. Several speakers are members of our community so don’t hesitate to ask questions or reply to their posts. Beginning July 6, (Monday - Friday), I will feature one speaker per day as a pinned post so you can get to know them. To my speakers, I will go in alphabetical order with community members first and then experts from outside the community. If all goes according to plan, we have just under 30 speakers. Drop your questions about Unplug & Play below.

Greetings to my fantastic and supportive community members. First, I'd like to start by extending a warm welcome to @Chanie Twersky who is the founder of Peak Parenting. She's a wise human and I think you will enjoy getting to know her. Second, I'm going to be away from the computer most of the week attending and presenting at the Chattanooga Homeschool Expo. I have a request, while I'm away, can you post some fun games, play ideas, or just get to know you conversations? We're building great momentum here and I am trying to avoid the summer (at least northern hemisphere) doldrums. I'm attending several play focused workshops and presenting on play as a learning tool so I'll be sure to bring back some new ideas. I look forward to learning from all of you while I'm away.

How’s the scavenger hunt progressing? Any epic failures you’d like to share or glorious creations? No time this weekend? No worries. The hunt thread remains open year round. Now a sneak peek into the week ahead. I’ll be at a homeschool expo most of the week and may not be on during my normal hours but I am getting ready to open the Story Lab. The first week of the lab will be focused on building those storytelling muscles. It’s meant to be fun and spark some creative juices. Along with stories is the importance of reading. This video was shared in another community and I thought you might find it interesting, too. How do you prefer to read?

To the dad’s in the community, it’s Father’s Day in the US. I hope you are having time to celebrate the special role you play in the lives of your kids. If you’re so inclined, why not share a pic from this week?

Here it is! The Grand Unplugged list. Over the next four days, set aside some time to complete 1, 2, 5, or however many you like. We want to see the “fails” and the wins. No one to “play” with? That’s okay. Solo participation is also welcome. The goal is to have fun. As you complete the tasks, post them here. If you have questions, ask but know each item is open to your interpretation.