Kimberly McLeod Talks Family Connection in Exclusive StarCentral Interview

This Easter, skip the sugar overload and fill your baskets with something that will last longer than a chocolate bunny—thanks to Kimberly McLeod, the creative force behind The Best Ideas for Kids. Known for her wildly popular platform that inspires busy parents, teachers, and childcare providers with clever, engaging activities, Kimberly has become a trusted name in the world of kids’ entertainment and education. Her ideas have been featured on TODAY and in Good Housekeeping, and her community of over 2.7 million followers across Instagram and Facebook continues growing daily.

Kimberly’s curated Easter basket ideas are perfect for anyone looking to move beyond the usual sugar rush. Instead of loading up on lollies and sweets, she encourages families to fill baskets with activities that spark curiosity and creativity—think hands-on STEM kits, craft supplies, brainteasers, and DIY projects that keep kids engaged long after the Easter egg hunt ends. Her approach offers a refreshing alternative that not only entertains but also enriches.

Adding to the excitement this year is the release of Kimberly’s latest book, The Ultimate Book of Would You Rather Questions: 1001 Family-Friendly Challenges for Kids, Teens and Adults. This isn’t just a book—it’s a laugh-out-loud experience designed to bring families and friends closer together through playful debate and imagination. Created especially with kids in mind, the book presents a massive collection of hilarious, silly, and sometimes gross “Would You Rather” questions that encourage lively conversation without a screen in sight.

With themed sections like “Eww,” “Make Believe,” “Animals,” and “Food,” readers can choose their favourite topics or jump around to keep things interesting. The best part? There are no right or wrong answers, making it the perfect way to bond during long car rides, family dinners, lazy weekends, or whenever a good laugh is needed. It’s a simple yet powerful reminder that connection, curiosity, and a touch of silliness go a long way, especially in today’s fast-paced, digital world.

This Easter, Kimberly McLeod is offering more than just fun—she’s giving families a chance to slow down, reconnect, and enjoy quality time together. Her new book, combined with her ever-growing collection of creative, kid-approved ideas, is a must-have for anyone looking to bring a little extra joy to their holiday traditions.

Kimberly’s inspiring journey and creative genius recently caught our attention. We interviewed her about her work, the story behind The Best Ideas for Kids, and how her passion continues to impact families worldwide.

What inspired you to create The Best Ideas for Kids, and how has it become a go-to platform for parents, teachers, and caregivers?

I started creating crafts with my son when he was a toddler, and then shared those crafts online. A few of my crafts went viral, and I realized I might have a talent for creating things people enjoy. After my daughter was born, I decided to take a leap of faith and go full-time as a content creator. My goal then became to create the best online resource that parents, teachers and caregivers can go to in order to access free activities for their kids.

Your crafts and activities are perfect for busy families. How do you come up with so many creative and engaging ideas, like felt Easter eggs and Easter egg slime?

A lot of my craft ideas are inspired by either classic crafts or things from my own childhood. Toilet paper rolls and handprint crafts were among my favorite creations as a child, and now you’ll find these are some of the top craft creations on my site. I also try to use as much recycled material as possible, so I look at materials like bubble wrap or paper rolls and figure out how to use them to create art. Sensory play ideas are always a favorite, too, so you’ll find lots of slime and sensory recipes as well.

Your new book, The Ultimate Book of Would You Rather Questions, is designed to unite families. What motivated you to create this fun, screen-free activity for all ages?

I have created a lot of Would You Rather questions for my site and received lots of feedback from families on how they enjoy asking them with their kids. Many followers actually use them at dinner time as conversation starters. I thought it would be handy to have an ultimate book you can take with you – whether in the car, at a restaurant, or to an appointment, the book is portable and has endless questions with over 1000 questions for kids to ask.

With over 2.7 million followers, you’ve built a large, supportive community. How do you balance sharing content for both parents and children?

I try to keep things simple and easy with supplies you mostly have on hand, because as a busy mom, I know how challenging it can be to prep activities between the other chores and tasks on our plate. That is also a reason I have so many printables on my site. Printables are great because parents can easily print these out and have an activity ready in minutes that kids can do independently while they make dinner or enjoy a mini break.

Celebrities like Alanis Morissette and Mindy Kaling follow your social media. How does it feel to see your work resonate with such influential personalities?

I think it’s amazing to have such a diverse group of followers, including celebrities! It just shows that everyone with kids is looking for screen-free activities to do with their kids.

What are your favourite Easter and spring crafts, and what tips would you give to parents trying these projects for the first time?

My favorite projects include using recycled materials and things you already have around your home. For Easter, you can transform a paper roll into a bunny or create a bunny roll paper roll stamp and use it to stamp on paper! Options are endless with recycled materials, which is why I created two books using recycled material crafts. My tip to parents is not to worry about the end result. My crafts are a starting point for inspiration and kids love just making things their own. My own kids will remake lots of crafts, and a green frog may become a purple frog. It’s about the process and them being creative on their own, too.

You focus on screen-free activities for kids. Why is this so important in today’s digital world, and how do you encourage families to disconnect?

I think the biggest struggle parents face these days is limiting screen time. As a mom myself, I also struggle with the balance of screens and off-screen activities. Making simple and easy screen-free activities is the goal because we are all stretched for time, and if it’s not easy, you are competing with a TV screen and tablet. I’d encourage families to even disconnect through simple things like my set of would you rather questions, instead of having the tablet out at dinner or a restaurant, print off some questions and get kids talking.

Living just outside Toronto with your family, how do your personal experiences as a mother influence the content you create and the ideas you share?

Being a mother influences everything I create; I always try to put my parent hat on when I make something. Everything has to be easy, simple, and ideally low-mess. I also test everything myself to make sure it’s easy and get my kids involved a lot too!