Demystifying Child's Play | Play Schemas

Positioning Play Schema… Why Toddlers Line Things Up
Have you ever noticed your child lining up toys, stacking blocks just so, or arranging snacks before eating them? That’s the Positioning Play Schema in action.
In this episode, we explore what positioning play really is, why toddlers and young children are drawn to order, patterns, and alignment, and how this type of play supports early maths skills, logical thinking, spatial awareness, focus, and emotional regulation.
You’ll learn:
What the positioning play schema looks like in everyday toddler behaviour
Why lining up, sorting, and stacking is powerful brain-building work
How positioning play supports learning, confidence, and a sense of control
Why this behaviour is not “obsessive”, it’s developmentally essential
If you’re parenting a toddler and wondering why play looks so repetitive or precise, this episode will help you reframe what you’re seeing and support your child’s learning through play.
Perfect for parents of children aged 1–5 who want to better understand play schemas, toddler behaviour, and child development.
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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.

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Transportation Play Schema Explained... Why Toddlers Carry Everything Everywhere
Have you ever wondered why your toddler insists on carrying toys from room to room, filling backpacks with random objects, or pushing a pram loaded with teddies across the house on repeat?
In this episode, we’re diving into the Transportation Play Schema, one of the most common (and often misunderstood) play schemas in early childhood.
Transportation play is all about moving objects from one place to another. While it can look messy, chaotic, or even frustrating at times, this behaviour is actually deeply purposeful. It’s how young children make sense of journeys, distance, order, and belonging in their world.
You’ll learn:
What the transportation schema is and how it shows up in toddler and preschool play
Why children feel such a strong urge to carry, push, collect, and relocate objects
How transportation play supports brain development, including sequencing, categorisation, and spatial awareness
The emotional side of transportation play, comfort, control, confidence, and independence
How to reframe “messy” behaviour into meaningful learning
Simple ways to support transportation play at home (without fighting it)
We also explore how recognising play schemas can dramatically reduce parental frustration. When you understand the why behind your child’s behaviour, it becomes much easier to lean into their play rather than push against it.
Whether this is your first introduction to play schemas or part of your ongoing journey with The Play Schemas Collective, this episode will help you see your child’s play, and learning, in a whole new way.
If you’re ready to stop battling the mess and start understanding the magic behind it, this episode is for you.
Follow along for more toddler behaviour insights, play schema explanations, and practical parenting support.

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If this episode resonated with you, subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review!
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
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www.playschemas.com
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Trajectory Play Schema by Age: What Movement Play Looks Like from Birth to 5+
Ever wondered why your baby keeps dropping things, your toddler throws everything in sight, or your preschooler builds elaborate ramps and obstacle courses?
In this episode, we explore age-specific trajectory play behaviours from birth through to five years and beyond, giving you a clear roadmap for how movement play naturally evolves as your child grows.
The Trajectory Play Schema is all about a child’s deep, instinctive urge to explore how objects, and their own bodies, move through space. This isn’t random behaviour or “naughty” play. It’s your child building early foundations for physics, problem-solving, emotional regulation, and confidence through movement.
We’ll walk through four key developmental stages, covering:
What trajectory play typically looks like at each age
Why behaviours like throwing, splashing, climbing, and jumping are so important
How you can confidently support trajectory play at home (without shutting it down)
What’s developmentally normal, so you can reframe frustration into understanding
From babies tracking movement and dropping spoons, to toddlers testing gravity, to preschoolers designing ramps, chain reactions, and movement-based games, this episode helps you see the learning beneath the behaviour.
If you’re parenting a child aged 0–5 years (or beyond), this episode will help you:
Understand your child’s movement urges
Support big body play safely
Reduce power struggles around throwing and climbing
Feel more confident responding to messy, energetic play
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Support the show
If this episode resonated with you, subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review!
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
[email protected]
www.playschemas.com
and if you are keen for a freebie... head to playschemas.com/free to see what there is for you!

Why is my toddler so messy?
If your child loves mixing, squishing, pouring, smearing, and turning everyday materials into something new, you’re likely seeing the Transformation Play Schema in action.
In this episode, we explore the Transformation Play Schema, one of the most powerful and misunderstood play schemas in early childhood. Play schemas are deep, instinctive urges that drive children’s play and support brain development, learning, and emotional regulation.
The Transformation Schema is all about change:
how materials change in texture, colour, shape, size, and consistency.
From mud kitchens and potion-making to paint-covered arms and melting ice, this kind of messy play isn’t misbehaviour, it’s high-value learning.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
What the Transformation Play Schema is
Why messy play is essential for toddler and preschooler development
How children learn cause and effect through transformation play
What transformation looks like in everyday play
Why repetition matters for brain development
How understanding play schemas can reduce power struggles and big emotions
You’ll also hear why transformation play starts early, why it can feel repetitive, and how supporting this schema, instead of fighting it, can make parenting calmer and more connected.
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Support the show
If this episode resonated with you, subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review!
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
[email protected]
www.playschemas.com
and if you are keen for a freebie... head to playschemas.com/free to see what there is for you!

What is the Disconnection Play Schema? A 101 Overview
Have you ever watched your toddler peel every sticker off a book, pull tissues out one by one, or dismantle a block tower you just built… and wondered why they do it?
In this episode, we’re diving into the Disconnection Play Schema, one of the most misunderstood (and often messy!) forms of toddler play.
Disconnection play is all about a child’s deep, instinctive urge to understand how things come apart. It’s the opening, pulling, removing, unzipping, unscrewing, tearing, and undoing that helps children explore how the world works. And while it can look destructive on the surface, it’s actually powerful learning in action.
In this 101 overview, you’ll learn:
What the Disconnection Play Schema really is
Why toddlers are driven to pull things apart (again and again)
How disconnection play supports problem-solving, fine motor skills, persistence, and early STEM thinking
Why this behaviour is healthy, necessary, and developmentally appropriate
Simple ways to support disconnection play safely at home (without losing your sanity)
If you’re in the thick of toddler life and feeling overwhelmed by the constant dismantling, this episode is for you. Understanding the why behind the behaviour can completely change how it feels, and how you respond.
Because your child isn’t undoing your work to frustrate you.
They’re doing their work,  building the foundations for learning, curiosity, and critical thinking.

Send a text
Support the show
If this episode resonated with you, subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review!
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
[email protected]
www.playschemas.com
and if you are keen for a freebie... head to playschemas.com/free to see what there is for you!