By New Year’s Day, a lot of families are caught between two impulses: Do nothing or start everything. This play prompt lives in the middle reflective without being heavy, playful without being chaotic. Play Prompt: “Keep / Try / Let Go” You’ll need: ✔️Three small piles of paper (or just three areas on the table) ✔️Something to write with (or draw) Label Them: 💖 Keep 💞 Try 💔 Let Go Invite kids to add ideas in any form that fits their age: - words - drawings - symbols - objects from around the room Examples: - “Keep reading together at night” - “Try learning a new game” - “Let go of yelling before breakfast” There’s no correcting and no debating. This isn’t about goals or resolutions, it’s about noticing. What I love about this prompt is that it gives kids a voice in the rhythm of the year ahead. It signals that change doesn’t have to be loud or drastic to be meaningful. Sometimes the most powerful New Year moment isn’t a fresh start, it’s choosing what comes with you.

Not every play recipe needs ingredients you can eat. Some of the most satisfying ones are the kind kids design instead of consume. This one is especially good for kids who enjoy systems, rules, and improving an idea over time. You’ll need: Nothing new just what’s already around. The Recipe: “Design → Test → Improve” 1️⃣ Design: Ask your child to design something with a purpose: a bridge that can hold three toys a vehicle that can travel from one room to another a structure that can be taken apart and rebuilt 2️⃣ Test: Let them test it without commentary. If it fails, that’s information, not a problem. 3️⃣ Improve: Ask one question only: “What would you change if you tried again?” Then let them redesign. What makes this a recipe is the repetition. The rhythm. Kids begin to expect that things don’t have to work perfectly the first time and they’re allowed to evolve. This kind of play builds more than structures. It builds patience, confidence, and the belief that effort leads somewhere. And during long winter days, that’s a powerful thing to practice.

We all know the struggle. You hand your child a phone to keep them quiet for a moment, and suddenly, they are glued to it. It’s not just you smartphones are designed to be addictive, acting like little "slot machines" that keep us coming back for more. But new research is showing us that when we give kids these devices matters just as much as how much they use them. Why Age 13 is the "Magic Number" Big studies are showing that giving a child a smartphone before age 13 can cause some real hurdles for their health. If a child gets a phone at age 12 compared to waiting until 13, the risks jump significantly: • Sleep Struggles: There is a 60% higher risk of poor sleep. • Physical Health: There is a 40% higher risk of obesity. • Mental Health: Too much screen time at ages 9 or 10 is a strong predictor of depressive symptoms by the time they hit middle school. Brains "Under Construction" Think of the adolescent brain as a construction site. It is busy building the areas that help with self-control, attention, and decision-making. When kids spend too much time on screens, two things happen: 1. The Control Center Weakens: MRI scans show that heavy screen use can actually "thin" the parts of the brain responsible for memory and making good choices. 2. The "Seeking" Trap: Apps are built to trigger dopamine (the brain's reward chemical). This makes the brain constantly "seek" the next notification. Over time, this makes real-life joy—like playing outside or hanging out with family—feel "boring" by comparison. Have you noticed any of these behaviors in the children in your life? If yes, have you taken any action?

After kids have been home for a while, they often don’t need more stimulation, they need direction. Something that gives their energy a job instead of letting it spill everywhere. Here’s a simple prompt that works especially well on long winter afternoons. Play Prompt: “The Helper Mission” Give your child a real-sounding mission. Not a chore, a role. You might say: - “I need a helper to create a delivery route from the couch to the kitchen.” - “We need a sorting station for all the stuffed animals.” - “Can you design a lost-and-found for things that don’t belong in this room?” Let them decide: - what tools they’ll use - how the job gets done - when it’s finished Your role is just to check in at the end and ask: - “What was the hardest part?” - “What would you change if you did it again?” - “Want another mission?” This works because kids love purpose. When play feels useful, they settle into it longer — and they often surprise you with how seriously they take it. No prep. No supplies. Just a little structure that turns restless energy into focused play.

If you use AI, here’s a gentle way to support play not replace it. Ask AI for one playful story starter or curious question, then share it aloud with your child. Example prompt you can copy: “Create a playful story starter for a 5–8 year old about a curious spoon who wants to learn how soup is made.” Let your child take it from there add details, change the ending, act it out. AI is just the spark. The connection is the point.