Is your child tossing baubles, spinning ornaments, or carrying presents across the room? Before you wonder if they’re being “naughty,” take a deep breath—they’re not being difficult; they’re being explorers! In this episode, we’ll decode these behaviours through the lens of play schemas, helping you see the magic in your child’s play this Christmas.

✨ What’s Inside This Episode?
Christmas can be a magical time, but for parents of young children, it’s often filled with unexpected moments. Your toddler’s fascination with spinning decorations, piling presents, or mixing food can leave you feeling frustrated or embarrassed—especially when relatives raise an eyebrow. But what if you could make sense of it all?

In this episode, I’ll help you understand these quirky actions as play schemas—a natural part of your child’s development that allows them to learn, grow, and make sense of the world. You’ll gain practical tools to:
✅ Recognise the most common play schemas in action this Christmas.
✅ Redirect your child’s play in ways that support their development and protect the festive vibe.
✅ Explain their behaviour to family members with confidence and clarity.

🎄 Real-Life Festive Scenarios & Solutions
Here’s a taste of what we’ll cover:

• Trajectory Schema: Throwing baubles or tossing wrapping paper? They’re exploring movement and physics—offer soft balls or paper snowballs instead.
• Transporting Schema: Carrying gifts across the room? They’re mastering coordination—set up a ‘delivery station’ to channel this energy.
• Enveloping Schema: Wrapping themselves (or the dog!) in blankets? They’re exploring boundaries—provide scarves or a box they can crawl into.
• Rotation Schema: Spinning ornaments or twirling in circles? It’s all about balance and coordination—encourage safe spinning toys or activities.
• Transforming Schema: Mixing food or tearing paper? They’re little scientists experimenting—give them playdough or edible ‘safe science’ tasks.

These scenarios—and more—will give you simple, actionable tips to turn potential chaos into calm, all while fostering your child’s natural curiosity.

🎁 The Cheat Sheet You’ll Love
To make this even easier, I’ve created a free cheat sheet summarising these insights. Whether you print it for quick reference or share it with family, it’s a practical way to front-foot those awkward conversations and keep everyone on the same page. Download it here: 👉 playschemas.com/007 or playschemas.com/free

✨ Why This Matters
When you understand why your child behaves the way they do, you can replace stress with connection. Play schemas aren’t just about play—they’re about learning, discovery, and growth. This Christmas, let’s celebrate your child’s curiosity and help others see the beauty in their actions too.

Get your free cheat sheet and show notes here: 👉 playschemas.com/007

🎙 Coming Up Next: We’ll explore more play schema insights to help you connect with your child in fun and meaningful ways—because, as I always say, today is a great day to play!

Support the show

I would love to hear your playtime stories—whether you’re celebrating a win or trying to crack the mystery behind a new behaviour, I’m here for it. Reach out on social media or drop me a message.

Facebook and Instagram @play_schemas
Ruth@PlaySchemas.com
www.playschemas.com

Unlock the Secret to Your Child’s Play: Why Nature Play and Play Schemas Matter! 🌱

Ever wondered why your toddler spends hours collecting sticks, throwing pebbles, or carefully lining up leaves? What if these seemingly random behaviours were actually the building blocks of their development? In this episode of Demystifying Child's Play, we explore the fascinating world of play schemas—the patterns of play that children naturally engage in to learn about their world—and how getting outside in nature can supercharge these essential learning experiences.

🌟 What You’ll Discover in This Episode:

• What Are Play Schemas? A simple, clear explanation of the 10 most common play schemas—like trajectory, transporting, and transforming—and why they’re crucial for your child’s mental, physical, and emotional development.
• The Power of Nature Play: Learn why outdoor play isn’t just fun—it’s vital for reducing stress, boosting creativity, and helping kids grow into confident, resilient individuals.
• Real-Life Stories: Hear relatable, heartwarming examples of how children explore these schemas in their everyday play—like the toddler who collects rocks with a sense of purpose or the preschooler who builds a leafy fort in the backyard.
• Practical Tips for Parents: Get actionable advice on how to recognise, support, and encourage your child’s natural play patterns at home and outdoors. From setting up a simple mud kitchen to organising a treasure hunt, these ideas are easy to try and packed with developmental benefits.

🌿 Why You’ll Love This Episode:
This episode is for every parent who has ever felt overwhelmed by messes, puzzled by repetitive play, or wondered how to make the most of their child’s curiosity. By understanding play schemas, you’ll gain a fresh perspective on your child’s behaviours and learn how to nurture their growth through joyful, meaningful play. Plus, we’ll show you how nature offers the perfect playground for these magical learning moments!

✨ Key Takeaways Include:

• How recognising play schemas can reduce frustration and strengthen your parent-child bond.
• Creative outdoor activity ideas for summer that engage your child’s natural curiosity.
• Tips for turning everyday items—like sticks, leaves, and mud—into tools for learning and exploration.

💡 Listen Now and Empower Your Parenting!
Your child’s play is more than just play—it’s how they grow, learn, and connect with the world. By tuning into this episode, you’ll discover how to embrace these moments with confidence and joy.

🎧 Subscribe and Stay Inspired!
If you love discovering simple, research-backed parenting tips, don’t forget to hit subscribe and leave a review. Share this episode with a fellow parent who could use some fresh play inspiration, and let’s build a community where play is celebrated and understood.

🔗 Resources Mentioned:

• Download your FREE Play Schemas Cheat Sheet:playschemas.com/free
• Download your FREE Nature play and Schemas ebook: playschemas.com/free
• Visit our blog for more parenting insights: playschemas.com/006
• Follow us on Instagram for daily play tips: @p

Support the show

I would love to hear your playtime stories—whether you’re celebrating a win or trying to crack the mystery behind a new behaviour, I’m here for it. Reach out on social media or drop me a message.

Facebook and Instagram @play_schemas
Ruth@PlaySchemas.com
www.playschemas.com

Unlock the Secrets Behind Your Child’s Play: The Origins of Play Schemas

Ever wondered why your little one loves to spin wheels, drop toys, or line up blocks over and over again? Those seemingly simple actions aren’t just random—they’re part of something much bigger: play schemas. In this episode of Demystifying Child’s Play, we’re diving deep into the fascinating origins of these repeated behaviours and uncovering why they are essential for your child’s cognitive and emotional growth.

As a parent, you might feel overwhelmed trying to understand your child’s play habits. Are they learning? Is their behaviour normal? This episode will help you see the brilliance behind their play and give you confidence in how to support it.

We’ll explore the roots of play schemas, tracing them back to pioneering research by Frederick Bartlett and Jean Piaget, two of the most influential minds in child development. Plus, we’ll break down the science into bite-sized, relatable insights that will leave you in awe of what your child is achieving every time they play.

🎙️ What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• What Are Play Schemas?
  Discover the simple yet powerful patterns of behaviour that help children make sense of their world. Whether your child loves spinning, throwing, or hiding objects, these actions are building their understanding of how things work.
• The Science Behind Play Schemas:
  Learn about schema theory, a concept that’s been shaping our understanding of learning since the 1930s. From Bartlett’s original ideas to Piaget’s groundbreaking work on cognitive development, we’ll explain why play schemas are vital for your child’s brain development.
• The Magic of Early Development:
  Explore the Sensorimotor Stage, where babies learn through their senses, and the Preoperational Stage, where imagination takes flight. We’ll share real-life examples of how these stages connect to the play schemas you see every day.

💡
Understanding play schemas isn’t just about decoding your child’s actions—it’s about unlocking the window into their growing mind. By supporting these behaviours, you’re fostering their creativity, curiosity, and love of learning. And here’s the best part: you don’t need to overhaul your parenting approach. With just a few small adjustments, you can make playtime even more enriching and enjoyable—for both of you.

📌 Take Action Today:
Notice your child’s play patterns this week. Is there a schema you can recognise? Whether it’s transporting toys in bags or dropping blocks from a height, think of one simple way to support their learning through this behaviour.

💬 Let’s Connect!
If you’re ready to dive deeper into play schemas, visit playschemas.com/005 for show notes, resources, and a free cheat sheet on the top 10 play schemas. Follow us on Instagram @play_schemas to share your playtime wins and mysteries!

Subscribe to Demystifying Child’s Play wherever you listen to podcasts, so you never miss an episode. And if you found this episode helpful, share it with a fellow parent who’s ready to discover the magic of play schemas.

🎉 Remember: Today is a great day to play!

Support the show

I would love to hear your playtime stories—whether you’re celebrating a win or trying to crack the mystery behind a new behaviour, I’m here for it. Reach out on social media or drop me a message.

Facebook and Instagram @play_schemas
Ruth@PlaySchemas.com
www.playschemas.com