We're thrilled to welcome some wonderful new faces to Connected Through Play this week! Let's extend a warm welcome to the new members @Jenny Akinosho, @Joanne Langston, @Silvia Molinaro, @Kiara Passante, @Larissa Florido, @Aida Brčaninović, @Gwen Roach, @Hanus Noémi, @Jessica Machado . As you get to know the community, here are some quick tips to get you started: 1. Visit the Start Here Classroom, this provides a roadmap for navigating the community and then, go ahead and #Try This Today - one simple play idea and come back to share. 2. Visit the labs, I'd start with #Day 1: Sink, Float, Predict in The Curious Kitchen or #Day 1: The Observation Mission in the Play Lab. You'll also find broad play ideas by age band in the Play Lab. Try one of these missions and share how they worked for you. 3. Introduce yourself. 3 simple questions: a) Who are you? b) How do you like to play and c) a fun fact about yourself or your family. A quick note, you'll find lots of play prompts and ideas in the Play Ideas & Prompts category, my assistant @Charlotte Bick and I are working on moving all of these to classrooms for you. If you are looking for Games, check out the Games! Games! Games! category and for those of you dealing with the heatwave, I've posted some simple indoor activities this week. The "Kid" and I are so happy to have you here.

Borrowing this from my friend Tosca with a twist. Canada Day was Wednesday. It’s Independence Day Weekend here in the states. It’s Wimbledon time in the UK and winter down under. So in the spirit of grilling, chilling, and maybe something thrilling, what does your perfect long weekend look like? Cooking out with friends and fam? Playing games with the kids? Going on an adventure? Drop it below but do it in gifs. Let’s see how many we can guess.

Usually it’s time to bake but this Saturday, we’re in Chattanooga, TN at a homeschool expo talking to families and sharing Discovery Toys. What are you doing this weekend?

Let’s extend a warm welcome to our two newest members @Riddhima Goel and @Jenny Akinosho Pull up a chair and explore. You’ll find lots of ideas in the Play Prompts category and our 3 new labs are also open. Start exploring #Welcome to Connected Through Play and them pop over to #Try This Today and share your first mini activity. We’d love to get to know you so don’t be shy. Please say hi.

A story gets more interesting when something changes. Give a character one small problem and see what they do next. Ask your kids to join this adventure with you. For variations by age check out #Day 2: Something Went Wrong Gather Your Gear - A toy, stuffed animal, action figure, drawing, household object, or made-up character - PaperPencil, crayons, or markers Optional: My Story Sparks Notebook Optional: small objects from Day 1 Steps 1. Choose a character. It can be a toy, stuffed animal, action figure, drawing, household object, or someone completely made up. 2. Give the character a name. It can be serious, silly, mysterious, or ridiculous. 3. Decide one thing about the character. Some ideas if you get stuck include: brave, they hate being sticky, they collect tiny things, they never tell the whole truth, they are always late, they think they are in charge, or they are afraid of something unusual. 4. Now make one small thing go wrong. Not sure what that is, try one of these to get started: Something is missing, something breaks, someone knocks at the door, a rule changes, or a secret gets out. The character gets stuck or perhaps the character has to help someone they do not want to help. 5. Ask: What does the character do first? 6. Build the next part of the story. You can tell it aloud, act it out, draw it, write it, make a comic, or move toys and objects around like a tiny scene. 7. Stop when the character has made one choice. The story does not have to be finished yet. Twist Switch the problem. Take the same character and give them a completely different problem. Notice how the character changes when the problem changes. A brave character may act differently when they lose something important than when they have to apologize. A silly character may become serious when someone needs help. A quiet character may surprise everyone when they are the only one who knows what to do.