More information coming your way on the Unplug & Play Summit August 16 - 22. My goal over the next few weeks is to introduce our speakers so you can ask them questions and get to know them before the summit. I'd like to take a moment to introduce my friend and Discovery Toys mentor, @Betty Jo Winters she'll be sharing a presentation on how to pick the perfect toy. Here's a bit more about her. Betty Jo brings a rare combination of lived wisdom and professional expertise to the stage. Holding a BA and Ms.Ed, she spent over twenty years as a classroom teacher across every age group from Adult Ed to first grade with 4th grade holding a special place in her heart. But her most treasured "career" has been the one she's held even longer: wife to her husband for over 54 years, and mother to 5 children who have given her 14 grandchildren to love and learn alongside. Today, Betty Jo channels decades of educational insight into her work as a Discovery Toys Play Advisor and Team Leader, a role that lets her do what she loves most, help children and families rediscover the power of hands-on play. She's passionate about the ways unplugged, imaginative play builds critical thinking, creativity, resilience, communication, and deep bonds between children and the parents and grandparents who play alongside them. It's a mission she lives out daily, whether she's on the floor with her own grandchildren or coaching families through the Discovery Toys community she loves. Betty Jo believes that when families play together, they don't just have fun in the moment, they build cherished memories that become lifelong anchors, grounding children with a balanced outlook as they grow into adulthood. Drawing on her rich life experience, from teaching thousands of students, to raising five children, to traveling the world with her husband, Betty Jo offers a warm, grounded perspective on why unplugging to play together matters more than ever.

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.

My kids have set screentime. They know when and for how long they can play in their phones/tablets/watch TV. Screen time was up today.... And they wanted mooooore. (Of course) They didn't want to do anything. I suggested the following; Color, play with magna tiles, paint, finger paint, take the dog for a walk, play Simon says (I got his idea from the classroom here), color on an Amazon cardboard box, Legos, play with a laser pointer with the cats, and vacuum the floor. Every suggestion above was met with a hard NO! -I have two 4-year-old twins. I was lost. No idea. What to do. So I got a pen and broke up the cardboard box. I started writing. No in in the pen. My daughter told me it wasn't working. I looked at her confused... I asked her what I can do if this pen didn't work. She lit up! Dad! I have markers iny room, I'll go get them! I told her to grab a bunch. She came down with a bunch of markers. Then we all colored for the next 45minutes. Sometimes you just need to play. Then they will join in.

Let me introduce @Auli Takala who will be sharing Crochet Amigrumi at the Unplug & Play summit in August. This is a session you'll want to watch with your favorite crafty kids or grandkids. Here's a little more about Auli. Hi, I'm Auli, the founder of Knit Loft—a cozy community for knitters, crocheters, and everyone who loves making things by hand. I enjoy bringing makers together to learn, share ideas, and inspire one another through creativity. I also created the Makers with Purpose Challenge, encouraging handmade acts of kindness that bring comfort and joy to others. I believe every stitch tells a story, and that creativity is even more meaningful when it's shared with a welcoming community. 🧶💛 If you enjoy the Yarn Arts, I encourage you to visit the Knit Loft and if you are a Maker looking for opportunities to expand your audience, check out her Makers with Purpose. Most important, if you have questions about knit or crochet, drop a comment below and I'm sure Auli will reply.

Did you know, I’m hosting the Unplug & Play summit in our community next month? Designed to help families reconnect, the summit features a range of presentations for everyone. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be introducing our speakers. Let’s start with @Anna Murrietta The smallest moments often become a child’s biggest memories. That simple belief is what inspired Anna Murrietta to create Grandparents Corner—a growing community dedicated to helping grandparents discover simple ways to create meaningful connection, one small moment at a time. As a grandmother herself, Anna has learned that children rarely remember everything we buy for them—but they never forget how we made them feel. Meaningful connection isn’t built through elaborate plans or expensive experiences. It’s created through intentional moments: a bedtime story, a shared laugh, a handwritten note, a favorite book read together, or a phone call simply to say, “I was thinking about you today.” Through Grandparents Corner, Anna helps grandparents discover simple ways to become an intentional presence in the lives of the children they love through books, shared experiences, conversation, and everyday moments of connection. Her approach reminds families that meaningful connection isn’t about doing more—it’s about being intentional with the moments they already have. In her session, Small Moments, Big Connections, Anna will share practical, screen-light ideas that families can begin using immediately to strengthen relationships, create meaningful connection, and make everyday moments count. Because meaningful connection doesn’t just happen. It’s something we create—one small moment at a time. What’s one question about grandparenting you’d like to ask Anna?