Come try something new. Not become an expert. Not produce something perfect. Just try. Our Craft & Hobby speakers are bringing six very different invitations to Unplug & Play. @Auli Takala will help families pick up a crochet hook. @Cam Parkes is opening the door to role-playing and shared adventures. @Cristal Vancarson is turning family photography into an experience families can enjoy together. @Joanne Langston brings art and storytelling together. @John Futch is inviting families to explore music through guitar. @Mayelice Castro will help kids and caring adults begin learning French together. You may already see something your family would love. Start there. Then look again at the experience that makes you think, “That isn’t really us.” Try that one too. Shared interests do not always begin with a long-held passion. Sometimes they begin with a crochet hook, a camera, a guitar, a few French words, or one family member saying, “Why not?” Unplug & Play begins August 16.

The final speaker elements are arriving and I think you are going to be happy. On that note, rookie mistake on my part, I just figured out how to set up the All-Access bundle so my mistake is your gain. The All-Access Bundle will be available for purchase starting tomorrow and the $15.99 bundle price will now be in effect until 21 Aug. Price increases 22 Aug Now, let’s meet our first group of experts. Connection sounds simple until real life gets involved. Children resist. Teenagers pull away. Parents run out of energy. Caring adults wonder whether they are helping, hovering, pushing too hard, or missing something important. Our first group of Expert speakers is stepping directly into those moments. @Anna Murrietta joins meet chatting about Small Moments, Big Connections on Sunday, August 16, from 12:00–12:30 PM CDT. @Nat Carey will be sharing tips for what to do When Dad Has Nothing Left on Monday, August 17, from 5:00–6:00 PM CDT. @Chanie Twersky brings her unique perspective Parenting Teens Without Losing Yourself on Wednesday, August 19, from 3:00 - 4:00 PM CDT. @Janell Bitton will be leading the conversation as we explore what happens When Connection Time Meets Resistance on Thursday, August 20, from 8:00–9:00 AM CDT. And I’m excited to welcome @Max Orlewicz , he works primarily with moms and will speak about Parenting Teen Sons. These are not conversations built around perfect families or easy answers. They begin with family life as it actually happens and offer ideas caring adults can use without pretending the difficult parts do not exist. Which conversation feels closest to what your family needs right now?

Hello all! I'm Max from Poland. I guide mothers and their teenage sons through the son's adolescence so that he can come out the other end an emotionally independent young man. I feel very fortunate to be able to speak to you about the latest science and global real world practices around helping people develop a growth mindset. This is a fundamental part of parenting nowadays. Most of what people know about this comes from Carol Dweck's book, which came out twenty years ago. A lot has happened since. Some of it holds up, some of it does not, and some of it only works under certain conditions. I'll walk you through where things actually stand, what schools and companies around the world are doing with it, and what that means for how you talk to your own kids. I'll also be honest about where it goes wrong. Praising effort can backfire, especially with teenagers. I'll show you what to say instead. What's the phrase you catch yourself saying most when your kid does well? 🌱 p.s. I look forward to meeting you all! Please also let me know what questions you might have about this presentation 🤓 p.p.s. This is my YouTube video on the topic. My presentation will expand on this.

While @Charlotte Bick and I are busy putting the finishing touches on the Unplug & Play summit I first wanted to thank everyone for being involved and active. I'd also like to invite all of our speakers that are in the community to follow the lead of @Paula Artis, @Cristal Vancarson, @Elliott Robertson, and @Andrew Brooks and take a few minutes to post about your session and ask our fabulous community members what questions they might have about your presentation. This is a great way for everyone to get to know each other while I tidy up behind the scenes. Tomorrow, I'll also be back with more Meet the Speaker updates but in the meantime, @Auli Takala, @Anna Murrietta, @Beth Hanning, @Betty Jo Winters, @Brenda Chilstrom, @Cam Parkes. @Celia Kibler. @Chanie Twersky. @Dale Cox. @Elizabeth Raum. @Gopika Ashok M. @Henry Hunter. @Janell Bitton. @Jen Staniforth, @Joanne Langston. @John Futch. @Kayla Meyer, @Elizabeth Houston, @Max Orlewicz. @Mayelice Castro, and @Tosca Fasso Let's get to know each other and let the community ask some questions.

Hello all! I just wanted to introduce myself to the group. My name is Kayla, and I’m a licensed mental health therapist, mom to a 2-year-old, adjunct psychology professor, and presenter at the upcoming summit! My session, “Good Enough: The Science of Secure Attachment,” will be pre-recorded so you can watch it whenever you have a free moment, which I know can be few and far between when you have little ones! 😊 I’m so passionate about attachment theory and understanding the ways our early experiences shape how we relate to ourselves and others. I’m especially passionate about making this information practical and approachable, because understanding why we do what we do can be such a powerful first step toward creating change. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to share something I care so deeply about with all of you. I hope the session gives you some insight, encouragement, and maybe even a few “aha!” moments as you think about your own relationships and parenting journey. I’m looking forward to being part of the summit and connecting with you all! ❤️