What Is 'Whimsymaxxing'? Inside the Trend Bringing Playfulness Back to Everyday Life

From mushroom-shaped mugs to backyard picnics, people of all ages are finding new ways to make ordinary days feel a little more magical. Here’s what the trend is all about, and why it doesn’t have to cost a thing.

If you’re one to tap into your inner child, imagination, and spontaneity, you’re probably already “whimsymaxxing.”

The term, which describes a lifestyle trend anchored on bringing more imagination and spontaneity into everyday life, has been popping up on social media feeds lately, with ideas ranging from adding glitter to your morning coffee to enjoying a picnic in the front yard or a family sleepover in the living room.

It’s really about nurturing your inner child and going back to the basics of having fun when life was still low-tech and on analog mode.

The trend has caught on with parents, who see it as a way to encourage screen-free, imaginative play. Mom Kasey Moore drew millions of views on TikTok after sharing videos of her daughter, Graylee, painting characters like Lightning McQueen and Remy from “Ratatouille” on the walls of their home.

Moore describes whimsy as bringing “carefree magic” into childhood. She even installed a “creation room” in her home, complete with paper, scissors, and paints, where she says her daughter can spend an hour and come out “a different child.”

Other whimsymaxxing ideas parents have shared include pushing couches together for a family sleepover, setting up a “homework cafe” with music and snacks, or cutting bananas into stars for breakfast.

Experts have weighed in on the trend, recognizing the value of this kind of play. “I love the playful motivation behind whimsymaxxing,” said Jenny Radesky, a developmental pediatrician at the University of Michigan. “Playfulness by design is not perfect. It’s actually kind of messy and experimental, and it shouldn’t have an end product.”

Radesky makes a case for open-ended, imaginative play, which she says helps children build mental flexibility, nurturing their problem-solving and creative thinking skills. She also encourages activities that engage more than one sense, even if they get a little messy.

But whimsymaxxing is not just for kids. Adults are embracing the trend too, even just by adding simple, playful touches to their daily routines.

Writers for the Guardian shared some of their favorites, from a mushroom-shaped mug to a microwave cleaner shaped like an angry mom. One contributor said these items offer “a brief bit of frivolity but somehow still meaningful.”

As with every trend, some are skeptical. Some critics argue that turning whimsy into a shopping list defeats the trend’s purpose of spontaneity. Fashion content creator Izzy Manuel suggests asking yourself before making that purchase: “Am I doing this for the trend, or is it actually me?”

Likewise, Radesky warns that social media tends to make parenting look picture-perfect. She suggests tapping into your childhood and recalling what you enjoyed doing then. “Be like, ‘Oh my gosh, what did I love to do when I was 10?’” she said. “Go back into your own memory vaults and think of that freedom of play.”

If you’re planning to indulge your whimsical side, remember that you don’t have to buy or perfect it. Sometimes it’s as simple as saying yes to a little mess.