You don’t need to write full posts to be an active, valuable member of Connected Through Play. For many people, commenting is the most natural place to begin. Thanks to Kathy F for sparking this idea. Below are the main ways to participate here, with real examples of what that can look like. 💬 GENERAL (POSTS) ➡️ Use this space when you’re thinking out loud or noticing something. Examples: - “I’m realizing how often I rush play instead of letting it unfold.” - “Today’s conversation surprised me.” - “I noticed how different things felt when I slowed down.” 👉 Observations are enough. You don’t need a takeaway or solution. 👋 INTRODUCTIONS (POSTS OR COMMENT ➡️ This space is for saying hello — anytime, not just when you join. Examples: - “I’ve been reading quietly and wanted to introduce myself.” - “I’m a grandparent here to support my grandkids differently.” - “This is my first comment — easing in.” 👉 Short is fine. Late is fine. Quiet is fine. 🎲 PLAY IDEAS & PROMPTS (POSTS OR COMMENTS) ➡️ This is where play lives. Use this space to: - Share how a prompt went - Ask questions about play ideas - Notice what surprised you Examples: - “We tried this during dinner and it shifted the mood.” - “This felt awkward at first, then fun.” - “I didn’t expect this to work — but it did.” 👉 There’s no right way to do a prompt. Trying counts. 🌟 REFLECTIONS & WINS (POSTS OR COMMENTS) ➡️ Wins here are often small, quiet, and meaningful. Sharing a reflection: - “We laughed together today.” - “I paused before correcting.” - “I noticed curiosity instead of control.” Commenting on a win: - “This helped me notice something similar.” - “I love how simple this moment is.” - “Thank you for sharing this.” 👉 Celebrating others often helps us see our own growth. 🎲 GAMES! GAMES! GAMES! (POSTS OR COMMENTS) ➡️ This space is all about shared play through games. Use it to: - Share a favorite game moment - Ask for game suggestions - Talk about what games reveal about connection

I don’t know what your childhood was like, but my kids’ childhood was certainly more structured than mine. Of course, my kids also chose the competitive athlete route, which by its very nature requires more rigor. Have you noticed similar differences in your own home? This brings me to a recurring theme I’m seeing among those close to me and the community at large: children often feel like "passengers." Their schedules are curated, their hobbies are rigid, and their goals are often set by adults. This lack of agency is a major contributor to the rise in childhood anxiety. It’s worth reflecting on our own childhoods. Most of us grew up with more "white space", hours where no adult was checking a clipboard. We had the freedom to be bored and to make our own choices. Play is how our kids reclaim that steering wheel. By stepping back and letting them lead, we show them that their ideas carry weight, independent of any grade or trophy. What differences have you noticed from your childhood compared to kids today?

Hopping on the gif train. Pick 3-4 gifs that highlight your week. Let’s play!

Anyone else experience the cart before the horse syndrome? You know, when you get so excited about something you forget to mention why you’re doing it? Yeah, that’s me, today. I launched my next five day play adventure but forgot to tell you so here we go! Over the weekend I originally found this piece by Harvard psychologist Jennifer Breheny Wallace that has been weighing on my mind. This morning, I went back to re-read it and thought it would be a great exploration for our community. Short summary, after working with thousands of families, she found a common, heavy thread: our children are wearing a "lead vest" of performance pressure. Many kids today believe their value is tied to their "output”, their grades, their starting positions, and their social standing. They feel they only truly "matter" when they are achieving. In this community, we believe Play is the antidote. It’s the one space where a child can be "useless" in the best way possible. When we play without a goal, we tell our kids: "I value you for who you are, not what you can produce." Starting today, I’m launching the Mattering Through Play 5-Day Reset. How it works: Every day for the next five days, I’ll be sharing two posts: - The Education: A short insight into why our kids feel this pressure and how we can shift the narrative. - The Play: A 15-minute activity designed to build connection, agency, and resilience. These aren't your typical "keep them busy" activities. They are designed to help our kids shed that lead vest and rediscover their own sense of mattering. Will you join us? Drop a "Count me in" below if you’re ready to prioritize connection over achievement for the next 5 days. Tagging some of the members who have expressed interest in more play-based ideas. @Lisa Vanderveen, @Erica Sisco-Dube, @Erin O'Neill, @Janell Bitton, @Anna Brown, @Celia Kibler, @Catherine McDowell, @Yu-Tzu Huang, @Mukkove Johnson, @Sharon Otaguro, @Ramona Zihlke, @Rene Kerkdyk, @Shannon Boyer

This morning, I was reading an article on CNBC by Harvard psychologist Jennifer Breheny Wallace who highlighted a heavy reality: many of our children are wearing what she calls a "lead vest" of performance pressure. Through her work with thousands of families, she found that kids increasingly believe their value is tied to their "output", their grades, their sports stats, or their social standing. They feel they only truly "matter" when they are achieving. When every drawing is immediately hung on the fridge or every goal is caught on video for social media, we can accidentally reinforce the idea that the result is what matters most. Let’s get real here, how many of us feel the same pressure? The antidote to this pressure is found in moments where there is no "score" to keep. When we play without a goal, we send a powerful, silent message to our kids: "I value you for who you are, not what you can produce." Today, we are going to intentionally create something that cannot be kept, graded, or "won." We’re going to practice the art of the temporary. Pop over to Play Ideas & Prompts for the activity. Here’s the article I was reading. https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/26/harvard-psychologist-who-worked-with-1000-kids-why-so-many-children-are-struggling-today.html