Making It Up
A Revolutionary Way to Bond with Kids Through Play
Practical tips for imaginative play sessions fill Making It Up, former theater teacher Christopher Mannino’s fun, inspiring parenting guide.
Mannino’s method is simple: he recommends that parents schedule daily ten-minute playtimes with their children, following a few easy rules to make those sessions inventive and energetic. Parents, the book says, should think of a child’s creative ideas as “bricks” that build on each other. Using encouraging phrases like “yes, and…” can lead to “magic-filled adventure,” while asking questions or trying too hard to plan ahead discourages spontaneity.
The book includes dozens of examples of effective play, as with a “wonderful” imaginary expedition after Mannino’s son proposed that they “take a hitchhiker from Mercury to Mars.” In another instance, Mannino’s daughter intermittently “freezes” him as a snowman during a grocery shopping trip, entertaining their family and other shoppers.
Numerous prompts and tools are presented to encourage brainstorming and to “unlock” the joy of being silly, as with using wild hand gestures and funny voices. The book also acknowledges that everyday obstacles and stresses can complicate parenting; it recommends that people avoid “doom scrolling” and make efforts to stay positive, even in the face of difficult news. The psychological technique of using “anchors” (strong, positive memories) is suggested to deal with difficult emotions and regulate moods.
Refreshing, exuberant, and levelheaded, the book includes sound advice on engaging children who are reluctant to play, encouraging neurodivergent children, fostering creativity within groups, setting boundaries, and applying parenting concepts to older children and teenagers. It asserts that, in addition to improving playtime and strengthening bonds between parents and children, theater “can actually help heal.”
Making It Up is a delightful, accessible parenting guide with recommendations for incorporating creativity, respect, and wonder into playtime.
Reviewed by
Kristen Rabe
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
