Ellie Kemper: I'm giving my kids a less scheduled summer. It's made me a better parent.

Ellie Kemper, a mother of two children aged 6 and 9, is making a conscious effort to limit screen time during the summer months, aiming to create a more unstructured environment for her kids. She shares that spending time with family in St. Louis, where she grew up, helped her realize she wants to prioritize imaginative play with her children.

Kemper, who is also an actress, believes that imaginative play allows her to connect with her kids and step into their world, something she finds relaxing and enjoyable. She has partnered with Pirate's Booty for Captain Bob's Summer Quest, a collection of imaginative play ideas that are easy to implement. Kemper emphasizes the importance of unstructured time for both creative individuals and children, as it offers space for thinking and imagination.

She credits her own experience as an actress for helping her connect with her kids by playfully entering their imaginative worlds. Kemper acknowledges that being a parent has taught her the skill of calming down before reacting, which has helped her handle tantrums and overreactions more effectively. She encourages her children to focus on effort and process rather than the end result, fostering a sense of purpose and satisfaction that she hopes will guide them in their lives.