Play and connection are so important, they're the foundation of so many beautiful family memories. But for so many families, "quality time" is anything but.😫 👉🏼 Maybe your kid pushes back the second you suggest doing something together. 👉🏼 Maybe they say yes, then flip out five minutes in. 👉🏼 Or maybe they flat-out refuse to spend time with you. 👉🏼 Maybe what is supposed to be "fun" family time leaves everyone drained and miserable. 👉🏼 Maybe you've stopped suggesting things altogether because you're tired of the drama that follows. If you relate to any of these, believe me, you are NOT alone. Promise. Hi!! I'm Janell, a Certified Parent Coach. I help parents of strong-willed, emotionally intense kids find their way back to connection and cooperation, without the yelling or power struggles. On Thursday, August 20 at 8 a.m. CDT, I'm sitting down with @Mary Nunaley during the Unplug and Play Summit to discuss "When Connection Time Meets Resistance." We'll chat about some of the reasons kids push back during connection time, and how to start creating the moments you're actually hoping for. 🩵 ⬇️ I'd love to hear, what's your biggest challenge when it comes to play or quality time with your kid?

If you’ve got kids climbing the walls this week because it’s just too hot, this one’s for you and for my friends down under, where it’s a wee bit cold, join the fun starting with Day 2 I’m dropping a brand new 5-day activity series called Heatwave Hideout one indoor play idea per day, no screens, no oven, no backyard required. I’ll return to build lab next week. Each activity uses stuff you already have at home (cardboard, ice cubes, paper, tape that’s basically it), and every single one comes with variations so it works whether you’ve got a 4-year-old, a 10-year-old, a teenager, or all three at the same time. Here’s what’s coming: 🧊 Day 1: The Melting Mission — Science-y, hands-on, and surprisingly competitive 📦 Day 2: The Box City Build — One box. Infinite worlds. 🗺️ Day 3: The Indoor Treasure Map — No words allowed 🎭 Day 4: The Freeze Frame Story — Slow motion improv for the whole family 🏆 Day 5: The Heatwave Hideout Challenge — The kids run this one I’ll post one each day. Save this post so you can find them easily, or follow along in the Random Ideas classroom. Drop a 🌡️ in the comments if you’re in and let me know how old your kids are so I can cheer you on with the right variations!

Day 2 starting line. How's everyone feeling? If you tried something yesterday and it went sideways, remember that's not a loss, that's a Beautiful Failure bonus waiting to be claimed. Document the wreckage and post it. If you haven't started yet, no stress. Today is a great day to knock out something quick. The Floor is Lava and The Kid Has Left the Building are both fast, low-lift, and ridiculously fun for the under-8 crowd. Feeling ambitious today? Trash to Treasure and the Free Little Library are bigger builds that pair well with a free afternoon. Two days down, two to go. Let's see what Day 2 brings. Drop your progress below, even a half-finished tower counts as momentum.

Here it is! The Grand Unplugged list. Over the next four days, set aside some time to complete 1, 2, 5, or however many you like. We want to see the “fails” and the wins. No one to “play” with? That’s okay. Solo participation is also welcome. The goal is to have fun. As you complete the tasks, post them here. If you have questions, ask but know each item is open to your interpretation.

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