Free Summer Play Ideas for stressed-out May Moms
There I was, staring at my exhausted reflection at 6:47am, coffee in one hand, to-do list in the other, when my 7-year-old tugged on my sleeve. "Mommy, can we watercolor together in your special book before school?"
I barely looked up. "Not now, honey. Mommy has seventeen things to do before we leave and you haven’t even brushed your teeth." There was no way I was cracking open my pricey watercolor book just to have my daughter hastily paint over each delicate page.
She stood there for a beat, then whispered something that stopped me cold: "Emma's mom paints with her a lot. How come you never want to play anymore?"
Insert knife directly into heart.
May comes at us like a freight train—end-of-school chaos, recitals, graduations, vacation planning, summer camp prep. The pressure is intense to get it right. We're already spent from navigating big emotions and an inflexible point of view, and now we're supposed to be FUN and playful too?
When we're stressed and overwhelmed, our brains literally can't access playfulness. Stress hijacks our prefrontal cortex—the very part responsible for creativity, flexibility, and joy. Meanwhile, lack of playfulness creates a wedge between us the Spicy One who desperately need that connecting, regulating energy from us. But there is good news:
"Just 45 minutes of creating art in a studio setting with an art therapist significantly lowered cortisol levels. The paper also showed that there were no differences in health outcomes between people who identify as experienced artists and people who don't." - Dr. Girija Kaimal [1]
One of the best ways to combat stress is to make art! Study after study has shown that drawing, doodling, coloring, and simply creating something for 20-plus minutes reduces cortisol. [2]
Creativity uses a different part of the brain than the part overwhelmed and paralyzed by all we have to do. Research shows that stress disrupts three specific brain networks (the default network, executive control network, and salience network), but creative activities can actually bypass this stress response by engaging entirely different neural pathways(3).
It's like having a secret backdoor to joy when the front door is locked by stress.
I know what you're thinking: "Mary, I can barely manage bedtime routines without someone having a meltdown. When exactly am I supposed to finger paint?"
I hear you. But here's what I've learned: You don't need to become a Pinterest Mom. You just need to create something—anything—with or without your kids.
Doodle during coffee time
Take a photo walk around your neighborhood
Rearrange the living room furniture just because
Make up silly songs while cooking dinner
Write terrible poetry about laundry
When you feed your own creativity, you're not being selfish—you're refilling the well that your family drinks from.
Ready to rediscover your playful side? I've created a free printable packed with simple ways to lighten up and connect with your kids this Summer. This will help you be ready to connect with your kid once school ends, even if you are fresh out of ideas.
Download: Lighten Up & Connect: A Serious Mom's Guide to Playful Parenting PDF
The bajillion play ideas I share in this free resource are specifically designed for real families with real kids who get bored after 30 seconds and critique your craft techniques. You've got this.
This isn't about adding more to your plate—it's about finding small, authentic ways to bring lightness back to your days. Because your Spicy One doesn't need a perfect mom. They need YOU, present and playful, even if it's just for five minutes between school pickup and soccer practice.
Remember: You're doing an incredible job navigating the intensity of raising a Spicy One. This isn't about adding pressure—it's about giving yourself permission to breathe, create, and rediscover the mom you want to be before the to-do lists took over.
Your Spicy One needs your regulated, joyful presence more than they need another perfect Pinterest activity. Start small. Start messy. Just start.
As always, scroll down to the bottom for This Week On The 'Gram.
Rooting for you,
Mary
P.S. Want to dive deeper into creative hobbies that fit into real mom life?
My friend Haylee Crowley has created the "Whimsy and Wellness: Hobbies Made Easy" newsletter specifically for busy moms who've forgotten what brings them joy. No crafting skills required—just simple, doable ideas that spark creativity and calm your nervous system.
Research Sources:
[1] Drexel University Study (Girija Kaimal): NPR article "What Happens In Your Brain When You Make Art"
[2] University of Washington Study: "One of the best ways to combat stress is to make art"
[3] Systems Neuroscience Research: Frontiers in Psychology - "The Creative Brain Under Stress", 2020