Let's extend a warm Connected Through Play welcome to our newest community members, @Liz Brants and @Jerry Cavender. I encourage you to visit the #Welcome to Connected Through Play classroom to get the lay of the land and then complete your first mini mission #Try This Today and share your results. We'd love to get to know you so when the time is right, please introduce yourself and let us know where in the world you are, your favorite play memory, and one fun fact. You've joined at a great time as the Grand Unplugged starts next week!

Any Monty Python fans out there? Today’s mission is channeling some Monty Python energy and is a good prep for next week’s Grand Unplugged. Let’s see what you create! This can be solo, done with kids, or adult friends. Today’s Mission Every family has a few people who are very good at taking silly things seriously. Today is their day. Your job is to create a government department dedicated to solving a completely unnecessary problem. Examples: - Department of Lost Socks - Bureau of Snack Fairness - Office of Squeaky Floorboards - Agency for Monitoring Backyard Squirrels The challenge is not coming up with the idea. The challenge is treating it like it matters. Gather Your Gear - Paper - Markers - Tape - Optional costume pieces Steps 1. Choose your department. 2. Create a name, logo, and official mission. 3. Decide what problem you solve. 4. Hold your first official staff meeting. 5. Present your findings to the public. Twist A new emergency appears halfway through. The department must respond immediately. Variations by Age Ages 3–6 Children become inspectors, badge makers, and problem spotters. They can draw official warning signs, issue “citations” to stuffed animals, or identify household emergencies such as “too many pillows on the couch.” Ages 7–12 Kids build the organization itself. Create jobs, rules, forms, and emergency procedures. They begin thinking about systems and teamwork while leaning fully into imagination. Ages 13–17 Teens create a functioning bureaucracy. Design policies, write public statements, hold press conferences, and defend decisions under questioning. Bonus points for maintaining a completely straight face. Share your pics or videos in the comments. Have some fun today.