Time to Play!

This is not sponsored, not hyped by an ad — I just found something so fun for our family that I wanted to share it.

On the blog we’ve been talking a lot about playing together — actually doing something interactive and energetic with your kids instead of defaulting to screens. And these two things have been a huge win for us.

First: laser tag.
Four players, no screens, and no “ouchies” (his words).

Ouchies refer to the nerf darts…

I bought it as a last-minute birthday gift and it turned out to be his favorite. My 5-year-old has put the vest and blaster through serious testing — dropping it, slamming it, throwing it around — and it’s held up without any issues. We’ve had Nerf guns, but they shoot a little too hard. This lets them run, hide, and play without anyone getting hurt and he loves to team up with mommy and battle daddy. The vest change color to match a team. The price ranges between about $59–$69, and for us it’s been totally worth it.

The other favorite in our house is Picasso Tiles.
They’re easy to pull out, there are no tiny pieces like Legos that get launched all over the house, and we can build tower after tower. Our favorite game is stacking one as high as possible before it crashes down.

These are the kinds of things that make it easier to choose play time together instead of TV time.

That said — let’s be real. Playing takes energy.

Finding that energy after a full workday doesn’t just happen. I’m intentional about it.

I move throughout the day so I don’t get lethargic. I take a multivitamin, but that doesn’t matter much if I’m not getting enough protein. A balanced diet during the day is key. No sugary snacks. Protein snacks like jerky and nuts. Sugars kept to a minimum and processed foods avoided as much as possible.

I exercise — not to be the Hulk, but to maintain my energy. Working out in the morning sets the tone for my entire day. Thirty minutes of lifting is enough to get things moving and keep energy steady.

After work, simple habits matter. Taking the dog for a one-mile walk — about 12–15 minutes — is a must. It keeps me from crashing into the couch and helps me stay active. Getting sunlight during breaks matters too. Even short bursts of natural light help regulate energy, mood, and your internal clock.

And sleep. Sleep, sleep, sleep. No less than seven hours. Your body has to rest and recharge or nothing else works.

Did I mention sugar? Because it deserves repeating. Blood sugar has a massive impact on energy and mood. When it crashes — you crash.

Now let’s talk about our kids.

When kids don’t get enough sleep, they don’t crash like adults — they get downright silly. Unfocused, emotional, hyper. Kids need substantially more sleep than we do, so bedtime matters. Set it early and protect it.

Sugar is even worse with kids. They crash harder — but you don’t see it as a crash. You see changes in mood, attention, and behavior. No sugary sodas. Stick to water and milk. Juice occasionally is fine, but skip the sugary, dyed drinks. And absolutely no candy or processed chips or snacks after dinner. Honestly, cutting that stuff out completely makes a huge difference.

Tuck loves dried or frozen mango. It’s not the best choice late at night, but it’s great during the day. Kids need protein, vitamins, and balance in their meals. That balance is often the difference between a meltdown and hours of steady energy.

And running and playing? That is a kid’s workout. Nothing replaces it.

There’s something special about both of you falling down exhausted at the same time — especially after an intense round of laser tag.

That’s the good kind of tired.

Remember — your playtime after work only lasts an hour or two, but the memory lasts forever to them.

👉Check out this Laser Tag Set for your fam!

👉Interested in Picasso Tiles? Check this out here!

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