Hi Everyone, I’m so excited to share several events being hosted right here in the community. On Oct 21, Chef @Andrew Brooks will be leading us in a Cook-along sharing tips to make healthy food bowls. Details in the calendar. A few days later Chef @Henry Hunter will be dropping a family fun baking lesson and we will schedule a bake-along shortly after the lesson to answer questions and share the joy. On Oct 30, I’ll be introducing a beginner RPG designed for families. Simple to play and you can learn more in the classroom #Story Quest: Become the Hero On November 7, @Paula Artis will be guiding us through a fun session using ChatGPT and craft supplies from home to create your own personalized Holiday Pop-Up book. Recommended age 8 and up (5 and up with adult help). More details in the calendar. Then @Celia Kibler and I will be co-hosting two sessions on Parenting through the Holidays. Stay tuned for dates and times. What other types of sessions or activities would you like to see? We have a very talented community and I want to see you shine.

It’s a rainy lazy day here in middle TN. No baking, no computer, just naps and curled up with a good book. But, I don’t want to abandon the community so let’s play a fun guessing game, this is one where you can play with the kids in your life, with adult friends, or in the community. Let’s see how many adventures happen. Don’t forget, don’t post and ghost! Comment on a few. To get us started, here are three fictional examples to give you an idea of how creative you can be. How good are you at spotting a tall tale? We’re kicking off a little game of childhood memories, family mischief, and stories that sound too ridiculous to be true. Here’s how to play: I’ll share three stories. Two are true (at least in our imaginary example), and one is completely made up. Can you spot the tall tale? Round 1: Childhood Mischief A. My brother and I once held a funeral for a broken toaster, complete with a shoebox coffin and a very emotional speech. B. I convinced my younger sister that if she planted jellybeans in the garden, a candy tree would grow. She watered them for two weeks. C. My grandma taught our cat to ring the doorbell whenever she wanted a cookie. Unfortunately, she figured out how to ring it at 3 a.m. Your turn! Which one is the tall tale: A, B, or C? Drop your guess in the comments and tell us why you picked it. Then share your own Two Truths and a Tall Tale. Let’s see who can fool the rest of us! P.S. These three stories are fictional examples. There isn’t a real answer to reveal, but I can’t wait to hear your real-life adventures!

It's wonderful to have some fresh faces joining us here at Connected Through Play. We're so glad you found your way to our corner of the community. @Al Anderson is bringing creativity and storytelling to the table—crafting children's stories with heart and sharing them with grandkids ranging from 5 to 21. @Even Kate is here to learn new play ideas and connect with other families who care deeply about supporting children's growth and happiness. @Takashi Watanabe is curious about how play fuels children's learning and development, and wants to discover meaningful ways to support that journey. @Alicia Powers, based in Las Vegas, is an aunt to 6-year-old twin girls and is working on learning to play more herself—a beautiful goal. @Andre and Jessica Anderson are excited to connect with other families through games and play, bringing their passion for intentional living to the community. @Maureen Kilbride from Aiken, SC, is here because it looked like fun—and we love that energy—as she spends time with her grand nieces and nephews. @Shaw Beaver is a proud grandparent dedicated to making learning joyful for young children, and brings a passion for literacy, creativity, and confidence-building through play. We're excited to have you all here. Dive in, share your ideas, and let's grow this community together.

One year. It's wild to say that out loud. When I started Connected Through Play, I had a simple belief: that play real, genuine, joyful play is how we actually connect. Not through perfect moments or polished highlight reels, but through showing up, trying things, laughing at the mess, and doing it all together. This past year, you've proven that belief right a thousand times over. You've shared your wins and your learning curves. You've cheered each other on. You've built something that actually *feels* like community not because we forced it, but because you chose to be here and to be real. We've learned that connection isn't complicated. It's a game night. It's a question asked without hesitation. It's someone saying "me too" when it matters. You've given that to each other, and we're grateful for it. To everyone who's been part of this, whether you've been here since day one or you just found us, thank you. This space exists because of you. Here's to another year of play, growth, and showing up together. Stick around. Bring a friend. Let's see what we build next.

Have you ever met a retired pirate who's afraid of butterflies? Or an inventor whose greatest creation makes terrible sandwiches? Well, you're about to. Welcome to Story Quest, our brand-new four-part Story Lab adventure where YOU create the hero, make the decisions, and discover what happens when the dice have other plans. Adventure 1: Become the Hero is ready! Grab a six-sided die, gather your fellow adventurers, and prepare to meet a character unlike anyone you've ever imagined. Then comes your first mystery. Something glittering. A stranger shouting. A decision that could change everything. What happens next? That's up to you. No fancy equipment. No experience needed. Just imagination, a little courage, and someone to share the adventure. Ready to play? Head to the Story Lab Classroom for the complete Adventure 1 instructions and printable character sheets. #Story Quest: Become the Hero And if you happen to spot a suspicious-looking bird along the way... "Look, Mom! There's a pigeon!"