The final speaker elements are arriving and I think you are going to be happy. On that note, rookie mistake on my part, I just figured out how to set up the All-Access bundle so my mistake is your gain. The All-Access Bundle will be available for purchase starting tomorrow and the $15.99 bundle price will now be in effect until 21 Aug. Price increases 22 Aug Now, let’s meet our first group of experts. Connection sounds simple until real life gets involved. Children resist. Teenagers pull away. Parents run out of energy. Caring adults wonder whether they are helping, hovering, pushing too hard, or missing something important. Our first group of Expert speakers is stepping directly into those moments. @Anna Murrietta joins meet chatting about Small Moments, Big Connections on Sunday, August 16, from 12:00–12:30 PM CDT. @Nat Carey will be sharing tips for what to do When Dad Has Nothing Left on Monday, August 17, from 5:00–6:00 PM CDT. @Chanie Twersky brings her unique perspective Parenting Teens Without Losing Yourself on Wednesday, August 19, from 3:00 - 4:00 PM CDT. @Janell Bitton will be leading the conversation as we explore what happens When Connection Time Meets Resistance on Thursday, August 20, from 8:00–9:00 AM CDT. And I’m excited to welcome @Max Orlewicz , he works primarily with moms and will speak about Parenting Teen Sons. These are not conversations built around perfect families or easy answers. They begin with family life as it actually happens and offer ideas caring adults can use without pretending the difficult parts do not exist. Which conversation feels closest to what your family needs right now?

Hello all! I just wanted to introduce myself to the group. My name is Kayla, and I’m a licensed mental health therapist, mom to a 2-year-old, adjunct psychology professor, and presenter at the upcoming summit! My session, “Good Enough: The Science of Secure Attachment,” will be pre-recorded so you can watch it whenever you have a free moment, which I know can be few and far between when you have little ones! 😊 I’m so passionate about attachment theory and understanding the ways our early experiences shape how we relate to ourselves and others. I’m especially passionate about making this information practical and approachable, because understanding why we do what we do can be such a powerful first step toward creating change. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to share something I care so deeply about with all of you. I hope the session gives you some insight, encouragement, and maybe even a few “aha!” moments as you think about your own relationships and parenting journey. I’m looking forward to being part of the summit and connecting with you all! ❤️

We're thrilled to have so many passionate people here who believe in the power of play to transform families and communities! @Thomas Czerwonka is here seeking to be a better father to his kind son, and he brings a gentle spirit grounded in honesty and deep conversation exactly what this community thrives on. @Vasi Smith is a transformational coach supporting creators in overcoming addictive behaviors, and with two boys practicing independence, she's ready to explore play as a healing tool. @Kristin Winstanley is a CPA and marketing leader from Arizona with a spirited 3-year-old sensory seeker. She's looking to reduce mental load around play activities. @John Futch has spent 25 years teaching music and built Notelife to help families stick with instruments without burnout with a 12 and 9-year-old, he's here to foster musical homes. @Beth Hanning is a book coach and Stephen Minister from Florida who's mentored around 100 students and writes children's books, she brings wisdom about mentorship and play-based learning. @Angie Fuller is a marketing project manager navigating motherhood with a 5 and 1-year-old, seeking deeper connection through play. @Dale Cox is a professional food scientist whose company publishes experiment-based courses for kids, perfect for families wanting hands-on learning with play. @Kathy Bee Hampton from Southern California is a producer and dream maker with award-winning kids' musicals and experience mentoring through play. @Elliott Robertson is a retired Holding Space facilitator who helps people discover their inner glory and cultivate expansive identities exactly the mindset play requires. @Danielle Powers spent 30 years as an infant-preschool teacher and is a fierce advocate for child-led play she's the real deal when it comes to understanding how kids learn through exploration.

For those of you that don't know me yet, my name is Andrew, and I'm a chef by trade and I'm also a nutritionist. One of the most meaningful and fulfilling jobs I've ever had has been being a food and nutrition teacher for preschool and pre-K. My job was to teach them about food and nutrition at a basic level, and then I would prepare their meals and snacks every day. Over the years of doing this, I learned several important lessons about how to get kids engaged with food. That seemed to be my biggest struggle: engagement. My question was always, how do I create curiosity around this? My very first day, I brought in a few ears of crimson corn. This was still fully in the husk, and the kernels were red and yellow modeled. It was beautiful corn! During the class session, I brought the corn out and was talking about it, and I began to remove the husk and the silk to show them the bi-colored kernels inside. I kept talking, and my eyes fell upon one of my students who was just looking at me with a blank stare. I then asked him, "Did you have a question about something?" And he kind of scrunched up his face and said, "Doesn't that come in a can?" It hit me like a ton of bricks. These kids did not grow up in the same way that I did, walking through a garden with my grandmothers, eating foods right off the vines. Then I asked my class, "Who has never seen corn on the cob? Raise your hand." I was shocked at how many hands went up. It wasn't that some of the corn was red and it looked unusual. They had never seen fresh corn on the cob. My mind was blown, and I also realized the challenge that lay before me. I had a lot of education to do. So before this post gets way too long, I'll leave you with a couple of little revelations that really moved the needle as far as my kids eating vegetables and being interested in food in general. By the end of my tenure there, I had every single one of my kids eating green salads. And I attribute that to two things. Number one was the dressing that we all came up with together. It was a simple vinaigrette with apple cider vinegar, olive oil, a touch of salt and pepper, but it had added peaches into it. And this peach vinaigrette was just sweet enough for a kid's palette so that they liked it.

We often hear that the early years of childhood play an important role in shaping a child’s confidence, beliefs and attitude towards life. If you could intentionally teach children one positive mindset from an early age, what would it be — and at what age would you begin? For example: - A growth mindset: mistakes help us learn - Self-belief and confidence - Kindness and empathy - Resilience when things go wrong - Gratitude and appreciation - Curiosity and independent thinking - Healthy attitudes towards money - The courage to be different - Understanding and expressing emotions Do you think these ideas should be introduced through everyday conversations, stories, games and real-life experiences rather than taught as formal lessons? I’d especially love to hear from parents, grandparents, teachers and children’s authors. Which mindset do you believe would make the greatest difference to a child’s future — and how early is too early? 📚✨