Play Skillfully Monthly

Your monthly guide to fostering joy, learning, and connection through the magic of play!

Watch July’s “A Minute to Connect” with Kathy

This month’s topic:

Christmas in July

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It’s July, and with the launch of A Year of Playing Skillfully’s 2nd edition, we’re having a Christmas in July Mega Bundle Giveaway! As a Newsletter subscriber, you are already qualified! All you have to do to enter is click the button below and submit the email, and a winner will be randomly chosen from our newsletter readers on August 1, 2025.

Enter the Give Away

It’s finally here! After years of hard work and months of waiting, A Year of Playing Skillfully 2nd Edition is completed, printed, and ready to ship. We received confirmation from our printer and have seen them ready to go. To everyone who pre-ordered and supported Play Skillfully and waited patiently, thank you!

To celebrate the official launch and printing of the 2nd edition of A Year of Playing Skillfully, we’re offering code LAUNCH for $25 off AYOPS 2nd edition printed version for the rest of July.

Use code LAUNCH for $25 off AYOPS Printed edition, and get ready to Say Yes and Play!

Bring the Holiday to Your Summer

Break out a Christmas Cookie recipe, some hot cocoa, and why not go all in with a holiday movie too!

Sugar cookie Recipe
- 1 cup butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 egg
- 3 cups flour
- 3⁄4 baking powder
- 1⁄2 tsp salt

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Prepare baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking liners. Beat butter and sugar together until smooth. Add egg and vanilla extract until combined. In a separate bowl combine flour, baking powder and salt. Slowly add flour mixture into a mixing bowl with other ingredients until well combined. Dump dough onto a floured surface and cut in half. Roll out dough about 1⁄8-1⁄4 inch thick. Cut the cookies into desired shapes with cookie cutters and transfer to the prepared baking sheets. Bake cookies 9-11 minutes or until the surface and edges are light golden brown.

This activity came from the month of December in the “A Year of Playing Skillfully, 2nd Edition” curriculum. To learn more about the curriculum and purchase a copy, visit our curriculum store. Use code LAUNCH to receive $25 off AYOPS 2nd Edition for the month of July.

AYOPS Store

Red and Lulu written and illustrated by Matt Tavares

Red and Lulu make their nest in a particularly beautiful evergreen tree. It shades them in the hot months and keeps them cozy in the cold months, and once a year the people who live nearby string lights on their tree and sing a special song: O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree. But one day, something unthinkable happens, and Red and Lulu are separated. It will take a miracle for them to find each other again. Luckily, it’s just the season for miracles. . . . From Matt Tavares comes a heart-tugging story combining the cheer of Christmas, the magic of New York City, and the real meaning of the holiday season: how important it is to be surrounded by love.

This month on the podcast, Kathy will be talking about Self-control and taking a deep dive into the curriculum guide. You won’t want to miss it.

Check out the Play Skillfully Podcast

Book Mentoring with Kathy
Kathy now offers Mentoring, an opportunity to book time with her and get her personalized insight for your specific needs. During this time, Kathy will be a listening ear and wise counsel, and offer helpful tips based on her knowledge and experience.

Currently, Kathy offers several options for mentoring:

1 session for $100
4 sessions for $299
10 session for $699

Speaking Engagements

Upcoming Events: Kathy is now booking events for 2026. Check out the website to learn how you can have Kathy share about the power of play and connection at your upcoming conference or retreat.

Visit her. Say hello. Buy the curriculum.