If you have a child in this age group, you are probably exhausted by repetition. The same story. The same three blocks. The same puddle they want to jump in for twenty minutes. The same… let’s hear what the request is in your house. As adults, we’re bored, we’re ready to move on to fix the problem or do the next thing on our list. But inside their head, it’s an explosion of activity. Their brain is in a state of Synaptic Blooming. Think about it, their brain is growing more connections than it will ever actually use. Every time they repeat an action, they are "paving" a neural highway. They are wiring their motor skills, their balance, and their senses. When we tell them to "move on" because we’re bored, we’re interrupting a key developmental state. Instead of forcing our agenda, why not take time to slow down and let them own the repetition? We need to let the "paint" set. Who remembers this age or being with a child this age? What was the most fun? Or alternatively, what stressed you out the most in this era?

I’d like to build upon the concepts introduced in the Brain and Play over the next few days. I hope you’ll join the conversation. Have you ever thought of your living room as a construction site? That thought popped in my head yesterday when I was babysitting my grandson. There was an assortment of toys, musical instruments, snacks, two dogs, and two cats. I watched Eli scoot around testing, playing, and most fun, discovering he could stand up and move forward without help. Of course the “mom” part of my brain also wanted to just tidy things up. I’m not the most organized or clutter free person but looking at those piles of stray blocks, and the floor covered in "stuff" kept calling to me to organize it. It’s loud, it’s messy, and it was tempting to just sweep it all into the toy box so I could walk without tripping. Yes, I’m a klutz! But then I took a step back and thought hmm, I was just talking about brain development, maybe I should apply what I teach. So, here’s a different way to look at it: You aren't looking at a mess; you are looking at how your child’s brain is building itself. Think of your child’s brain right now as Wet Paint. It is dripping, soaking things up, and incredibly easy to shape. As adults, that paint has mostly dried we have our habits and our "way of doing things." But for them, everything is still fresh. Every time they hit a hiccup, the tower falls, they fall, the drawing rips, or the game stops working their brain "sparks." In that moment of frustration, they are actually building a new connection. If you jump in to "fix" it or show them the "right" way, you’re basically walking across that wet paint. You leave your footprints all over their learning. The goal as the parent or grandparent isn't a clean house or a "perfect" project. It’s Ownership. When the child owns the problem, they own the solution. And when they own the solution, the paint sets in a way that makes them feel like they can handle whatever comes next.

I'm working on the classroom content but for those who missed today's session, here's the recording. I'm babysitting today so I'll be offline most of the day. Let's start the conversation- what questions do you have about the brain and play? What tips do you have? Where do we need to go deeper?

Who will be joining in real-time tomorrow and who is eagerly waiting for the replay? Either way, I’m excited for this series to begin. If you are catching the replay and have questions about brain development and play, let me know in the comments. If I don’t know the answer, I’ll find someone who does.

Strange things happen in my brain when I’m up at 2:00 am and can’t fall back asleep. The awesome thing is I get really creative but the downside is I’m basically a zombie the next day. It’s basically reliving the newborn years only with a senior cat. With dementia. Anyway, I came up with the idea of “The Playful Shift” an 8-week coffee chat series and I’ve tried to pick a time that could be good for most members. My idea is to have deeper conversations and let you see how the topics and play prompts fit together. I like to think of it as the bridge between a toddler building with blocks and a teenager navigating their digital world and how you can feel connected to both without burning out. If all goes according to plan, we will explore eight different topics including: • The Science: Why your child’s brain is actually working hardest when they look "bored." • The Strategy: How to "layer" any activity to keep it fresh for minutes (or hours) longer. • The Resilience: How to use play to build the "grit" your kids need for the real world. The Details: • When: Sundays 7:30 am CDT (Bring your favorite beverage!) Check the calendar for your local time and the topic breakdown. • Format: 20-minute informal presentation + live Q&A. • Ages: We are covering the full spectrum, from ages 3 to 17. I can’t wait to start this shift with you all. I hope to see you there and recordings along with “Lab Notes” will be available in the new Play Shift Classroom. Let me know your thoughts? Is my 2 am idea appealing or have I gone too far?