What Would Your Child Choose? When spring finally shows up, kids often have a favorite way to explore it. 🌼 Which one sounds most like your child? No children, no problem, which sounds like you as a child or today? 1️⃣ Collecting tiny flowers and leaves to save or press 2️⃣ Hunting for bugs and looking at them up close 3️⃣ Studying new buds, tree bark, and “mystery” plants 4️⃣ Jumping in every puddle and feeling the squish of mud Drop the number (1–4) in the comments and tell us what you do when your child or grandchild wants to play outdoors and you’re just not feeling it. @Erin O'Neill, @Mukkove Johnson, @Shelma Erikson

When you were a child, were there any family rituals tied to sick days? Here’s what I mean, upset stomach meant ginger-ale (a special treat). Sore throat or a cold could mean a hot cup of Lipton tea with lots of sugar and a squeeze of lemon from the ever present plastic lemon. And then, the saltine crackers with butter- oh that brings me back. I still reach for the saltines and butter on occasion. So, what does this have to do with building connection with the children in your life? It’s the simple routines and rituals. We may not realize they make an impact but they do. What’s a “sick day” ritual you remember?

Connection isn't a reward for good behavior. It’s the foundation of it. Something to ponder. Most parenting advice is built on a "Management operating system (OS)." It’s about strategies to stop the crying, scripts to fix the defiance, and timers to force compliance. But as a Learning Engineer, I looked at the data and as a mother, I looked at my heart. The "Management OS" is broken. It treats our children like projects to be completed rather than humans to be connected with. It leaves parents feeling like exhausted wardens instead of playful guides. I’m building something different: A Play Revolution and I need your help. At Connected Through Play, we believe: 1. Play is a Core Capability: It isn't "extra credit." It is the primary language through which children learn emotional intelligence and resilience. 2. Emotional Honesty > Perfection: A "perfect" parent is a myth. A "connected" parent is one who knows how to repair a bond after a hard moment. 3. Gamification is a Tool for Connection: We use "game mechanics" not to manipulate behavior but to invite our children into a shared world of joy. If you are tired of "managing" your family and ready to start leading with play, you belong here. We aren't just following a playbook; we are rewriting the blueprint of our families. Who’s with me?

I’m back after a brief unplanned ice spa weekend🥶 seriously, I was offline a bit due to a power outage but I’m back and ready to go. I was just reading an article from Edutopia about the role of board games and vocabulary development. The best part, in my opinion, was the section on creating your own board game. So, here’s my challenge for you. 1. Read the article 2. Create your own board game 3. Share a picture of the game and what the players thought. Add your comment to this post or start a new topic. To get things started, let’s share one favorite game. @Karen Gibson, @Catherine McDowell, @Erica Sisco-Dube, @Betty Jo Winters, @Mukkove Johnson, @Yu-Tzu Huang @Jacqueline Hutchinson, @Janell Bitton, @Erin O'Neill

You don’t need to write full posts to be an active, valuable member of Connected Through Play. For many people, commenting is the most natural place to begin. Thanks to Kathy F for sparking this idea. Below are the main ways to participate here, with real examples of what that can look like. 💬 GENERAL (POSTS) ➡️ Use this space when you’re thinking out loud or noticing something. Examples: - “I’m realizing how often I rush play instead of letting it unfold.” - “Today’s conversation surprised me.” - “I noticed how different things felt when I slowed down.” 👉 Observations are enough. You don’t need a takeaway or solution. 👋 INTRODUCTIONS (POSTS OR COMMENT ➡️ This space is for saying hello — anytime, not just when you join. Examples: - “I’ve been reading quietly and wanted to introduce myself.” - “I’m a grandparent here to support my grandkids differently.” - “This is my first comment — easing in.” 👉 Short is fine. Late is fine. Quiet is fine. 🎲 PLAY IDEAS & PROMPTS (POSTS OR COMMENTS) ➡️ This is where play lives. Use this space to: - Share how a prompt went - Ask questions about play ideas - Notice what surprised you Examples: - “We tried this during dinner and it shifted the mood.” - “This felt awkward at first, then fun.” - “I didn’t expect this to work — but it did.” 👉 There’s no right way to do a prompt. Trying counts. 🌟 REFLECTIONS & WINS (POSTS OR COMMENTS) ➡️ Wins here are often small, quiet, and meaningful. Sharing a reflection: - “We laughed together today.” - “I paused before correcting.” - “I noticed curiosity instead of control.” Commenting on a win: - “This helped me notice something similar.” - “I love how simple this moment is.” - “Thank you for sharing this.” 👉 Celebrating others often helps us see our own growth. 🎲 GAMES! GAMES! GAMES! (POSTS OR COMMENTS) ➡️ This space is all about shared play through games. Use it to: - Share a favorite game moment - Ask for game suggestions - Talk about what games reveal about connection