More information coming your way on the Unplug & Play Summit August 16 - 22. My goal over the next few weeks is to introduce our speakers so you can ask them questions and get to know them before the summit. I'd like to take a moment to introduce my friend and Discovery Toys mentor, @Betty Jo Winters she'll be sharing a presentation on how to pick the perfect toy. Here's a bit more about her. Betty Jo brings a rare combination of lived wisdom and professional expertise to the stage. Holding a BA and Ms.Ed, she spent over twenty years as a classroom teacher across every age group from Adult Ed to first grade with 4th grade holding a special place in her heart. But her most treasured "career" has been the one she's held even longer: wife to her husband for over 54 years, and mother to 5 children who have given her 14 grandchildren to love and learn alongside. Today, Betty Jo channels decades of educational insight into her work as a Discovery Toys Play Advisor and Team Leader, a role that lets her do what she loves most, help children and families rediscover the power of hands-on play. She's passionate about the ways unplugged, imaginative play builds critical thinking, creativity, resilience, communication, and deep bonds between children and the parents and grandparents who play alongside them. It's a mission she lives out daily, whether she's on the floor with her own grandchildren or coaching families through the Discovery Toys community she loves. Betty Jo believes that when families play together, they don't just have fun in the moment, they build cherished memories that become lifelong anchors, grounding children with a balanced outlook as they grow into adulthood. Drawing on her rich life experience, from teaching thousands of students, to raising five children, to traveling the world with her husband, Betty Jo offers a warm, grounded perspective on why unplugging to play together matters more than ever.

Some of you know I have a blog, PlayEdVenture. Thought I'd share this recent post. Could be a great family tradition to start :) https://www.playedventure.com/p/create-a-nature-journal-with-your-grandchild

The Curious Kitchen is back in action and I'll be sharing 6 new kitchen activities you can do at home to have fun in the kitchen, create memorable moments, and make some tasty treats. I'm also working on a companion guide and the goal is to have one for each set of labs. The first lab is fairly simple and is named Sweet or Salty. Here are the basic steps and if you visit #Sweet or Salty? you'll also see age variations you can use with your family. Let me know if you try this and what the reaction was. Sweet or Salty? Sugar and salt may look alike, but they don’t always behave the same way. Let’s find out what happens when each one is added to warm and cold water. Gather Your Gear: - Table sugar (granulated sugar) - Table salt - 4 clear cups or glasses - Warm water - Cold water - Spoon - My Science Notebook (optional) Steps: 1. Place a spoonful of table sugar on a plate and a spoonful of table salt on another plate. 2. Look closely at each one. How are they alike? How are they different? 3. Taste one or two grains of each using separate clean spoons or clean fingertips. 4. Fill two cups with warm water and two cups with cold water. 5. Add a spoonful of sugar to one warm-water cup and one cold-water cup. 6. Add a spoonful of salt to the remaining warm-water cup and cold-water cup. 7. Stir each cup the same number of times. 8. Watch what happens. Which dissolved first? Did the warm water make a difference? Twist: Before you stir, predict which ingredient will dissolve first. Were you right? Further Exploration (Optional): Try the activity again using another type of sugar, such as brown sugar or powdered sugar. How did it compare with table sugar?