If you’ve got kids climbing the walls this week because it’s just too hot, this one’s for you and for my friends down under, where it’s a wee bit cold, join the fun starting with Day 2 I’m dropping a brand new 5-day activity series called Heatwave Hideout one indoor play idea per day, no screens, no oven, no backyard required. I’ll return to build lab next week. Each activity uses stuff you already have at home (cardboard, ice cubes, paper, tape that’s basically it), and every single one comes with variations so it works whether you’ve got a 4-year-old, a 10-year-old, a teenager, or all three at the same time. Here’s what’s coming: 🧊 Day 1: The Melting Mission — Science-y, hands-on, and surprisingly competitive 📦 Day 2: The Box City Build — One box. Infinite worlds. 🗺️ Day 3: The Indoor Treasure Map — No words allowed 🎭 Day 4: The Freeze Frame Story — Slow motion improv for the whole family 🏆 Day 5: The Heatwave Hideout Challenge — The kids run this one I’ll post one each day. Save this post so you can find them easily, or follow along in the Random Ideas classroom. Drop a 🌡️ in the comments if you’re in and let me know how old your kids are so I can cheer you on with the right variations!

Day 2 starting line. How's everyone feeling? If you tried something yesterday and it went sideways, remember that's not a loss, that's a Beautiful Failure bonus waiting to be claimed. Document the wreckage and post it. If you haven't started yet, no stress. Today is a great day to knock out something quick. The Floor is Lava and The Kid Has Left the Building are both fast, low-lift, and ridiculously fun for the under-8 crowd. Feeling ambitious today? Trash to Treasure and the Free Little Library are bigger builds that pair well with a free afternoon. Two days down, two to go. Let's see what Day 2 brings. Drop your progress below, even a half-finished tower counts as momentum.

Here it is! The Grand Unplugged list. Over the next four days, set aside some time to complete 1, 2, 5, or however many you like. We want to see the “fails” and the wins. No one to “play” with? That’s okay. Solo participation is also welcome. The goal is to have fun. As you complete the tasks, post them here. If you have questions, ask but know each item is open to your interpretation.

If so, what platform or tools did you use, and would you recommend them? I'm currently building my own website and trying to decide the best approach. I'm particularly interested in hearing from people who have built a website themselves rather than hiring a developer. What worked well for you, what didn't, and if you were starting again today, what would you do differently? I'd love to learn from your experiences. Thanks in advance!

Due to a family emergency, I’ve had to reschedule Beginning Guitar with @Rene Kerkdyk on June 6 and The Playful Shift on June 7. My daughter was attacked by a dog and landed in the ER tonight. I’m watching the baby and will be helping her for over the weekend while her husband is at work and will be limited online. Thanks for understanding.