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Making It Up: A Revolutionary Way to Bond with Kids Through Play
“Yes, and . . .” Explore how the principles of theatre and improv can help parents engage in imaginative play with their children with actor and theater teacher Christopher Mannino
Just ask a certain animated blue dog we all Play-centered parenting is what every young child wants and needs, yet it’s hard to manage in today’s busy, hectic world. How can real-life parents with real responsibilities and stresses drop everything to be silly with their kids? You don’t need to be a trained actor to engage in your child’s imaginative world. It’s easier than it sounds, and far more powerful than you can imagine. With the techniques found in Making It Up, accompanied by playful illustrations from Cory Reid, you’ll have more energy, more confidence, and a stronger relationship with your kids in just ten minutes a day. And you might just find yourself having fun!
Just ask a certain animated blue dog we all Play-centered parenting is what every young child wants and needs, yet it’s hard to manage in today’s busy, hectic world. How can real-life parents with real responsibilities and stresses drop everything to be silly with their kids? You don’t need to be a trained actor to engage in your child’s imaginative world. It’s easier than it sounds, and far more powerful than you can imagine. With the techniques found in Making It Up, accompanied by playful illustrations from Cory Reid, you’ll have more energy, more confidence, and a stronger relationship with your kids in just ten minutes a day. And you might just find yourself having fun!
- GenresParenting
224 pages, Paperback
Published January 6, 2026
1 person is currently reading
10 people want to read
About the author
Christopher Mannino
7 books88 followersMannino's writing journey began when he was stranded on the Cornish coast at the supposed birthplace of King Arthur. The experience inspired The Scythe Wielder's Secret. He studied mythology, theatre, and literature both in the US and at Oxford. A former theatre teacher, he is a digital nomad currently residing in Malta with his wife and two inspiring children. He continues to write both fiction and nonfiction for children and adults. In addition, as a freelancer he is most known for his work with Business Insider where he has amassed over 4.5 million readers. Mannino is an expert at helping parents and kids connect better. Be sure to check out his revolutionary approach the Making it Up Method.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
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January 5, 2026A Joyful, Practical Guide to Reconnecting with Kids Through Play
Making It Up is an inviting, empowering parenting book that removes the pressure from play and replaces it with connection, confidence, and joy. Christopher Mannino translates the simple but transformative principles of improv into everyday moments any parent can access, no performance background required. What stands out most is how achievable the approach feels, showing that just a few minutes of imaginative presence can strengthen bonds, ease stress, and bring genuine fun back into family life. With Cory Reid’s playful illustrations enhancing the experience, this book feels less like a manual and more like a warm invitation to show up and play.
Making It Up is an inviting, empowering parenting book that removes the pressure from play and replaces it with connection, confidence, and joy. Christopher Mannino translates the simple but transformative principles of improv into everyday moments any parent can access, no performance background required. What stands out most is how achievable the approach feels, showing that just a few minutes of imaginative presence can strengthen bonds, ease stress, and bring genuine fun back into family life. With Cory Reid’s playful illustrations enhancing the experience, this book feels less like a manual and more like a warm invitation to show up and play.
January 6, 2026
Making It Up is an energetic, reassuring, and deeply practical parenting book that reframes play not as an extra task on an already crowded to do list, but as one of the most powerful tools parents have for connection. Drawing on principles from theatre and improvisation, actor and theater teacher Christopher Mannino shows that imaginative play doesn’t require special skills, endless time, or boundless energy only presence and a willingness to say “yes, and.”
At the heart of the book is a compassionate understanding of modern parenting reality. Mannino acknowledges the exhaustion, stress, and time pressure that make play-centered parenting feel aspirational rather than achievable. Instead of guilt or idealism, he offers techniques that are flexible, forgiving, and surprisingly efficient. The promise of “just ten minutes a day” feels realistic, not reductive, and the book consistently honors effort over perfection.
Improv principles translate beautifully into the parent child relationship. Concepts like accepting offers, following a child’s lead, and building collaboratively help adults step into their children’s imaginative worlds without taking control or shutting them down. These techniques do more than spark fun they cultivate trust, confidence, emotional regulation, and mutual respect. Play becomes a shared language rather than a performance.
The tone of Making It Up is encouraging and joyful, never instructional in a rigid sense. Cory Reid’s playful illustrations reinforce the book’s accessibility, making it feel inviting rather than prescriptive. Mannino’s background in performance gives the book momentum and warmth, but the advice remains grounded in everyday family life, not theatrical theory.
At 224 pages, Making It Up offers a generous mix of mindset shifts, practical tools, and reassurance for parents who want deeper connection without added pressure. It will resonate with caregivers of young children, educators, and anyone interested in playful, relationship-centered parenting. Ultimately, the book reminds readers that play is not a distraction from real life it is where some of the most meaningful bonding happens.
At the heart of the book is a compassionate understanding of modern parenting reality. Mannino acknowledges the exhaustion, stress, and time pressure that make play-centered parenting feel aspirational rather than achievable. Instead of guilt or idealism, he offers techniques that are flexible, forgiving, and surprisingly efficient. The promise of “just ten minutes a day” feels realistic, not reductive, and the book consistently honors effort over perfection.
Improv principles translate beautifully into the parent child relationship. Concepts like accepting offers, following a child’s lead, and building collaboratively help adults step into their children’s imaginative worlds without taking control or shutting them down. These techniques do more than spark fun they cultivate trust, confidence, emotional regulation, and mutual respect. Play becomes a shared language rather than a performance.
The tone of Making It Up is encouraging and joyful, never instructional in a rigid sense. Cory Reid’s playful illustrations reinforce the book’s accessibility, making it feel inviting rather than prescriptive. Mannino’s background in performance gives the book momentum and warmth, but the advice remains grounded in everyday family life, not theatrical theory.
At 224 pages, Making It Up offers a generous mix of mindset shifts, practical tools, and reassurance for parents who want deeper connection without added pressure. It will resonate with caregivers of young children, educators, and anyone interested in playful, relationship-centered parenting. Ultimately, the book reminds readers that play is not a distraction from real life it is where some of the most meaningful bonding happens.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
🎭 “Hi reader, I’m Dad.”
“I’m not embarrassed. Why would I be ashamed to play with my kids? Why shouldn’t I play as crazy as I can? Playing with kids is awesome.”
That energy carries the whole book.
🧠 Play Is for Parents Too
I really enjoyed how this book highlights that play isn’t just vital for children, it’s just as important for parents. It helps adults relax, have fun, and genuinely connect, rather than just supervising from the sidelines.
🤍 Zero Judgment, All Encouragement
The tone is informative, warm, and completely judgment-free. Play feels accessible even to busy parents or those who feel awkward, rusty, or disconnected from play, thanks to society doing…
🎨 Improvisation as a Superpower
The book is rooted primarily in improvisation, which I loved. It means you can use whatever you have, wherever you are, regardless of space, time, or circumstances. No fancy setups. No pressure. Just presence.
Thank you, Netgalley and Familius Books, for the ARC.
“I’m not embarrassed. Why would I be ashamed to play with my kids? Why shouldn’t I play as crazy as I can? Playing with kids is awesome.”
That energy carries the whole book.
🧠 Play Is for Parents Too
I really enjoyed how this book highlights that play isn’t just vital for children, it’s just as important for parents. It helps adults relax, have fun, and genuinely connect, rather than just supervising from the sidelines.
🤍 Zero Judgment, All Encouragement
The tone is informative, warm, and completely judgment-free. Play feels accessible even to busy parents or those who feel awkward, rusty, or disconnected from play, thanks to society doing…
🎨 Improvisation as a Superpower
The book is rooted primarily in improvisation, which I loved. It means you can use whatever you have, wherever you are, regardless of space, time, or circumstances. No fancy setups. No pressure. Just presence.
Thank you, Netgalley and Familius Books, for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Making It Up offers an encouraging and practical approach to imaginative play, drawing on the principles of theatre and improv to help parents connect more deeply with their children. You don’t need to be a performer to use these tools. Christopher Mannino makes play-centered parenting feel accessible, even for adults juggling real responsibilities and daily stress.
What I appreciated most is how realistic the book is. The focus on short, intentional bursts of play makes the practice feel doable, not overwhelming. The improv concept of “yes, and…” becomes a powerful framework for entering a child’s imaginative world with curiosity and openness. The playful illustrations add to the book’s warmth and approachability.
This is a helpful resource for parents and caregivers who want to strengthen connection through play and rediscover some joy along the way.
Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book for review.
What I appreciated most is how realistic the book is. The focus on short, intentional bursts of play makes the practice feel doable, not overwhelming. The improv concept of “yes, and…” becomes a powerful framework for entering a child’s imaginative world with curiosity and openness. The playful illustrations add to the book’s warmth and approachability.
This is a helpful resource for parents and caregivers who want to strengthen connection through play and rediscover some joy along the way.
Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book for review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Making It Up presents imaginative play as simple and achievable. Christopher Mannino uses improv-inspired ideas to help parents connect with their children in practical, realistic ways that fit into busy lives.
By focusing on short, intentional moments of play, the book makes connection feel manageable. A main focus of the book, the “yes, and…” approach offers an easy way to follow a child’s lead with curiosity.
If you are looking to be the next Heeler family, you should give this one a read!
Thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
By focusing on short, intentional moments of play, the book makes connection feel manageable. A main focus of the book, the “yes, and…” approach offers an easy way to follow a child’s lead with curiosity.
If you are looking to be the next Heeler family, you should give this one a read!
Thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
January 6, 2026
Full disclosure: I received an early reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Rarely does anyone claim (after the fact) they were ready for parenthood. One of our most pressing challenges is relating to our children. Our days are filled with bills and jobs and umpteen other stresses - and remember when our biggest worry was whether or not we'd get to stay up later? Many of us have worked hard to train the child out of ourselves, supposedly to better prepare ourselves for the adult world.
This book demonstrates it's not only possible to reclaim your inner child, but doing so will improve both your life and your connection with your children. By using simple theatre techniques, Making It Up will show you how to meet your child's imagination and wonder at their (nearly limitless) level, and love doing it too. It will also show you how reconnecting with this joy and wonder can help you recentre yourself, better equipping you to deal with the stress that comes with being an adult.
I would highly recommend this book to any parent, grandparent, parent-to-be, or anyone who works with children!
Rarely does anyone claim (after the fact) they were ready for parenthood. One of our most pressing challenges is relating to our children. Our days are filled with bills and jobs and umpteen other stresses - and remember when our biggest worry was whether or not we'd get to stay up later? Many of us have worked hard to train the child out of ourselves, supposedly to better prepare ourselves for the adult world.
This book demonstrates it's not only possible to reclaim your inner child, but doing so will improve both your life and your connection with your children. By using simple theatre techniques, Making It Up will show you how to meet your child's imagination and wonder at their (nearly limitless) level, and love doing it too. It will also show you how reconnecting with this joy and wonder can help you recentre yourself, better equipping you to deal with the stress that comes with being an adult.
I would highly recommend this book to any parent, grandparent, parent-to-be, or anyone who works with children!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews