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living room floor of our rental house when one of the kids said, "Let's make up a bed0me story together." and so we did. each of us added our twist, and the story grew more ridiculous with every turn. we laughed un0l we couldn't breathe. No screens, no agenda, just imagina0on, play, and togetherness. These are the moments that leave a las0ng imprint not just for our children, but for us, too. It's not only about where we go or what we do, but how it feels to be to- gether: safe, seen, silly, and loved. while the poetry of it may sound nos- talgic, there's science to support this rhythm. research confirms that un- structured play isn't just beneficial, it's vital. according to the american academy of Pediatrics, free play supports the cogni0ve, physical, so- cial, and emo0onal well-being of children. It helps with problem-solv- ing, emo0onal regula0on, crea0vity, and brain development. In spaces where nothing is ex- pected, children discover who they are. Psychologist dr. Peter Gray, a leading voice in the study of play, writes that children learn the most important lessons in life that cannot be taught in school through self-di- rected play. Lessons like naviga0ng friendships, managing frustra0on, resolving conflict, and building au- tonomy. This is where growth hap- pens. It's also in the goofing off, the unmeasured minutes, that character takes root. But it's not just children who bene- fit. when we step out of the rush of the scheduling and striving, we re- member something too. we remem- ber what it feels like to see our children as they are, not as we're shaping them to be. we see their spark, their silliness, their so!ness. and in doing so, we reconnect with our own. we live in a world that o!en equates love with giving more, more ac0vi0es, more enrichment, more structure. But I've come to believe that some0mes love is about giving less. Less pressure. Less noise. Less fix- ing. So we can give more of what mat- ters most: presence, pa0ence, and playfulness. our full, undivided a1en- 0on offered not with an agenda, but with an open heart. Presence is a powerful form of love. In the unscripted moments, in the quiet background of an ordinary day, we give our kids something they will carry with them: the feeling of being known. Not for their achievements, not for their progress, but for who they are right now. So here is a small invita0on, from one parent to another: Leave an hour or two this week untouched. don't fill it. don't structure it. Just let it unfold. Say yes to the backyard fairy house. Sit on the porch and let the popsicles drip. Lie in the grass and trace cloud creatures with your fingers. Make up a ridiculous story. Let your child lead and let yourself follow. or simply sit nearby and soak it in. These moments unscripted, joy- soaked, and light with laughter are the ones your child will remember. and maybe, just maybe, they're the ones you need too. h1ps://ins0tuteofchildpsychology.com/the- power-of-play-with-peter-gray/?srsl0d=afm- BooojjoZ_Vr_TlddbwvwLdrGbx_2g1Hg4aSF 5uddpTHdLNLe63ogK In the quiet; they bloom, Their soul stretches. In the in-between of unrushed time, the magic lives; The most generous gift unfolds; In the stillness of in-between It's where the soul exhales. By Dana Daly 52 HOOK

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