Once a month, I invite community members to share their community or business \(if not on Skool\). We'd love to know more about the amazing communities you're building and leading here with us. I typically due this on the first Saturday of each month but with the holiday weekend in the US last week, here we go. Take a moment and share, in the comments: 1. Who you are and who you serve. 2. A quick snapshot of just 1 or 2 sentences about what your community or business is all about. 3. Your about page link or website, so folks can connect with you if they are interested. And while you're at it, why not check out 1 or 2 other communities in the thread that catch your eye. Let's celebrate each other.

I'm thrilled to welcome some wonderful new faces to Connected Through Play! I'm also trying something new this month and changing my welcome message. I'd love to know if you prefer this style or if you would rather just be welcomed by name? I'll include your first steps to navigating the community in the comment. Let me know what you think. @Senka Kovacevic brings a background in economics and a passion for special education and Montessori she's here for practical advice for teaching her 8-year-old. @Iryna Miroshnychenko, you two share that love of hands-on, curiosity-driven learning, why not connect and swap ideas? @N Nijdam is always searching for new ways to connect with her 4-year-old and lives in Amsterdam. @Stacey Hayward has a 4-year-old and a 9-year-old and is keen for fresh inspiration. @Abs F is raising three high-energy boys and wants purposeful, safe play you three have overlapping ages and goals, so you may want to connect in the comments and share what's working! @Corrie Herrin wants to connect better with both her teenager and kindergartner a beautiful dual challenge. @Shaye Williams is homeschooling five young children and looking for creative connection ideas. @Jen Staniforth, with kids ranging 5–19, may be a perfect match for you both. You may want to check out her Skool community The Baby Sleep Skool. @Iryna Miroshnychenko teaches kids and believes every child is a genius, she's here for experiments and meaningful lessons that spark curiosity. @Hira Palla is homeschooling a toddler and newborn and needs to keep her little one entertained while learning. @Josephine Withers has an "outside flavor" toddler and wants more activities. @Jessica Senhorinha is juggling two curious builders (PreK and primary) with limited time and wants quick, ready-to-go options for real connection you three are all in the toddler/PreK zone, so team up for ideas!

Years ago, in my family, a cardboard box became “Boxy.” Not a fort, not a spaceship. Just Boxy. A four-year-old decided that was enough, and for weeks, it was. Unplugged time doesn’t usually look like the picture in your head. It’s messier and smaller and stranger than that. Long weekend or not, what does unplugged family time actually look like right now? Not the ideal version. The real one. What does it actually look like this week? Tell us what you’re doing in the comments.

Did you know, here in the US, it’s “Eat Your Veggies Day”, but we’re not starting by eating them. We’re starting by giving them new jobs. A broccoli forest. A carrot superhero. A cucumber spaceship. Build something ridiculous, tell us about it, then enjoy your creations as a snack when the show is over. If you play along, I’d love to see what your vegetables become. Veggie Casting Call Vegetables spend a lot of time being vegetables. Today, they’re auditioning for bigger roles. What happens when a carrot becomes a superhero, a broccoli floret becomes a tree, or a cucumber slice becomes a flying saucer? Gather Your Gear - A variety of vegetables you already have on hand - Cutting board - Knife (adult use as needed) - Plates or trays Optional: toothpicks, cream cheese, hummus, or other safe “building” materials Camera (optional) Steps 1. Wash and prepare a few vegetables. 2. Challenge everyone to create the silliest scene, creature, vehicle, building, or invention they can using only vegetables. 3. Give each creation a name. 4. Have everyone present their masterpiece and explain what it does. 5. Vote on categories like Most Ridiculous, Most Creative, Most Likely to Exist on Another Planet, or Best Backstory. 6. When the show is over, turn the creations into a snack plate and eat them. Twist Each person secretly chooses one vegetable that must appear in every creation. The stranger the vegetable, the better. Variations by Age Ages 3-6 Focus on simple creations and storytelling. A cucumber can become a train. A carrot can become a rocket. Invite lots of “What does it do?” and “Where does it live?” questions while building together. Ages 7-12 Add challenge cards. Build a vegetable pet. Create a machine that solves a problem. Design a vegetable amusement park. Encourage bigger ideas and fun explanations for how everything works. Ages 13-17 Introduce a timed design challenge. Draw a random category such as movie character, mythical creature, famous landmark, or invention. Bonus points for combining multiple vegetables into one creation and giving it an elaborate origin story.

Let's extend a warm Connected Through Play welcome to our newest community members, @Auli Takala and @Amanda Owens 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 today!