Does anyone else remember this saying? Either way, here in Tennessee it’s another hot and humid summer day and another reason for ice cream. This week’s Curious Kitchen Lab will focus on sweet science. The first activity goes live tomorrow. Today, a sneak peek in honor of Ice Cream Day. Answer our flavor poll and then let us know if you make your own ice cream. What’s your favorite ice cream flavor?

A wooden spoon isn’t always a spoon. A cardboard box isn’t always a box. Sometimes the most ordinary objects become the starting point for extraordinary ideas. This challenge is all about seeing everyday household items in new ways. Gather Your Gear - One or more everyday household items - Paper - Pencil, crayons, or markers - Optional: tape, string, cardboard, recycled materials, or other supplies if you decide to build your idea. Steps 1. Explore your home and choose one or more everyday household items. For an extra challenge, pick one item from different rooms of the house. 2. Look closely at each item and ask, “What else could this be?” Write down or say as many ideas as you can before choosing a favorite. 3. Sketch your favorite new use or invention. Don’t worry about making it look perfect. Focus on showing your idea. 4. If you can, build a simple prototype using the item and any other materials you have available. 5. Test your idea. What worked well? What surprised you? 6. Finish by asking: - What would I keep the same? - What would I change next time? - What new idea did this inspire? Twist Combine two unrelated household items into one brand-new invention. For example, what could a whisk and a flashlight become? Or a laundry basket and a pillow? Variations by Age Ages 3–6 Choose one object together. Ask questions like, “Could this be a hat? A telescope? A dragon tail?” Draw one favorite idea, then use the real object to pretend together. Ages 7–12 Challenge yourself to think of at least ten different uses before choosing one to sketch or build. Add labels to your drawing to explain how your invention works. Ages 13–17 Think like an inventor or product designer. What real problem could your new creation solve? Build a simple prototype if possible, then reflect on what worked, what didn’t, and how you would improve Version 2.

The lineup for the Unplug & Play Summit keeps getting better as we finalize our speakers. Today, I’d like to introduce you to one of our long-time community members @Brenda Chilstrom if her introduction resonates or if you have questions don’t hesitate to leave a comment below. I come from a family of educators, so I was always drawn to being with children and interested in how they learn and develop. I also loved both science and art, and when I discovered occupational therapy, it felt like the perfect combination of the two. It gave me a way to understand the science of child development, the nervous system, sensory processing, and movement, while still using creativity, play, and connection. Over the years, I’ve worked with young children and families in many different environments, and one thing has always been true: when we slow down, become curious, and really engage with children through play, we begin to see what is happening beneath the surface. We get to see more of the true child—not just the behavior or the struggle—and the child feels seen, safe, and understood. That is a big part of what led me to create Raising Curious Eaters. Even though the name focuses on eating, the community is not only for families of children with feeding difficulties. So many feeding challenges are connected to sensory processing, emotional regulation, anxiety, rigidity, body awareness, and a child’s sense of safety. The community is really about helping parents make sense of those connections and move away from pressure and power struggles toward more curiosity, confidence, and connection. That also ties closely into my session, The Missing Piece of Emotional Regulation, because regulation is not simply about teaching children to calm down or manage their behavior. It develops through connection, co-regulation, and feeling understood by the adults around them.