Demystifying Child's Play | Play Schemas

Join us for the 2026 Family Preset from the 12-16th January. Jump on the waitlist here!If you'd love a ready-to-go cheat sheet with all the schema explanations and ideas from today’s episode, you can download the free Christmas Play Schema Guide at playschemas.com/free.Ever wondered why your child suddenly throws baubles across the room, moves everyone’s presents to the opposite corner, or mixes their entire Christmas lunch into one giant “experiment”?In this episode, we take the stress, confusion, and guilt out of those big festive behaviours, and replace them with clarity, confidence, and a whole lot more calm.Christmas is magical, but it’s also a time when emotions run high, routines shift, and little people are surrounded by stimulating new sights, sounds, and expectations. For many parents, this means asking (more than once!), “Why are you doing that?” From throwing wrapping paper into the air, to hiding objects, spinning ornaments, lining up cookies, or disappearing under the tree to see the lights from below, it can feel chaotic and sometimes embarrassing, especially in front of relatives.But I'm here to reassure you that your child isn’t just being naughty... they’re learning.Their Christmas behaviour is usually a direct expression of one of the 10 common play schemas: the repeated patterns of behaviour children use to understand how the world works. And once you know what to look for, everything starts to make sense.In this special Christmas episode, I break down how each schema might show up on Christmas Day, from the trajectory schema making baubles fly, to the transporting schema moving gifts across the room, to the enveloping, connecting, disconnecting and transforming schemas that turn ordinary moments into adorable (and sometimes messy!) explorations of curiosity.You’ll discover: Why your child’s festive “chaos” is actually developmental gold How to explain their behaviour to relatives without awkwardness or judgement Simple redirections that meet their needs without shutting down their play Ways to prevent meltdowns before big Christmas moments even begin Practical scripts you can use with grandparents, visiting cousins, or even your partner How to set up Christmas Day so your child feels supported, understood, and connectedSend us a textJoin us for the 2026 Family Preset from the 12-16th January 2026. Jump on the waitlist here! If you’ve ever wished you had a group of parents who just get it — welcome to The Play Schemas Collective. It’s where you can ask questions without judgement, share those little wins only another parent would understand, and dive deeper into your child’s play with people who speak your language. Join us at playschemas.com/collective — we can’t wait to meet you.Support the showIf 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 @[email protected] and if you are keen for a freebie... head to playschemas.com/free to see what there is for you!

Join us for the 2026 Family Preset from the 12-16th January. Jump on the waitlist here!If your living room has ever looked like a toy shop exploded on Christmas morning, you’re not alone. The wrapping paper, the noise, the overstimulated kids… and that quiet thought in the back of your mind: “How did we end up here again?”In this episode of Demystifying Child’s Play, host Ruth Vercoe brings a fresh, reassuring perspective to the festive season, one that’s grounded in child development, play-based learning, and realistic expectations for busy parents. Less stuff. More play. More connection.“Less Stuff, More Play: Creating a Connected Christmas” explores what really supports young children during the holidays, and why understanding their play schemas can turn Christmas from overstimulating chaos into joyful, meaningful moments.You’ll hear relatable stories, gentle insights, and down-to-earth guidance that helps you cut through the noise (and the unsolicited gift suggestions!) so you can focus on what matters most: your child, their curiosity, and the simple joy of playing together.• Why “more” can quickly become too much Discover the science behind overstimulation, why young children often ignore new toys at Christmas, and how aligning gifts with your child’s play schema can bring calm back into the holiday season.• How simple play invitations can transform Christmas morning Get practical, budget-friendly ideas based on the 10 play schemas — from wrapping-and-unwrapping (enveloping) to moving baskets of baubles (transporting) to watching the tree lights from underneath (orientation). No fancy setups. No Pinterest pressure. Just real play that meets your child where they are.• The magic of slowing down and building connection Find out why quiet in-between moments matter more than perfectly curated traditions — and how following your child’s natural play urges leads to deeper bonding, calmer days, and a Christmas they’ll actually remember.As parents, we often carry the invisible weight of “making Christmas magical.” But the truth is: your child doesn’t need more things, they need more play, and more of you.All key takeaways, scripts, and schema-based ideas mentioned in the episode are available in the show notes at Send us a textJoin us for the 2026 Family Preset from the 12-16th January 2026. Jump on the waitlist here! If you’ve ever wished you had a group of parents who just get it — welcome to The Play Schemas Collective. It’s where you can ask questions without judgement, share those little wins only another parent would understand, and dive deeper into your child’s play with people who speak your language. Join us at playschemas.com/collective — we can’t wait to meet you.Support the showIf 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 @[email protected] and if you are keen for a freebie... head to playschemas.com/free to see what there is for you!

Join us for the 2026 Family Preset from the 12-16th January. Jump on the waitlist here!Have you ever watched your toddler throw toys, empty your handbag for the tenth time, or spin in circles until they fall over, and wondered, why on earth are they doing that? This episode will help you finally make sense of it, and trust your child’s play in a whole new way.In this episode of Demystifying Child’s Play, we’re diving into one of the most powerful, and often misunderstood, parts of early childhood development: play schemas. These are the repeated patterns of behaviour that toddlers come back to again and again… throwing, wrapping, stacking, filling, dumping, climbing, hiding, spinning.And while these moments can feel messy, chaotic, or even a bit annoying (especially when you’re tired, heading into the Christmas season, or just trying to make dinner), they’re actually signs that your child is learning exactly what they need to learn right now.You’ll hear why your child keeps: • tossing toys across the room • wrapping dolls in blanket after blanket • transferring objects from one bag to another • building towers just to knock them down • spinning until they’re giggling on the floorEach of these actions links to a different schema, a way the brain organises information and builds important pathways for maths, science, problem solving, gross motor skills and confidence. When we understand this, everything changes. We stop seeing “naughty”, “messy”, or “chaotic”, and start seeing curiosity, exploration and connection.If you’re a parent who feels guilty about not playing enough… or if you’ve ever wondered whether your toddler’s behaviour is “normal”… this episode will give you reassurance, clarity and a simple new lens that makes family life feel so much easier.Think of this as a gentle invitation to become a play detective. Once you start noticing schemas, you’ll never unsee them, and you’ll feel so much more connected to what your child is trying to learn and communicate.Whether you’re listening on a walk, folding washing, or hiding in the pantry for two minutes of quiet, this episode will help you see your child’s play with fresh eyes. Parenting is hard, and that doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong, especially when you understand what’s going on beneath the surface.If this episode helps yoSend us a textJoin us for the 2026 Family Preset from the 12-16th January 2026. Jump on the waitlist here! If you’ve ever wished you had a group of parents who just get it — welcome to The Play Schemas Collective. It’s where you can ask questions without judgement, share those little wins only another parent would understand, and dive deeper into your child’s play with people who speak your language. Join us at playschemas.com/collective — we can’t wait to meet you.Support the showIf 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 @[email protected] and if you are keen for a freebie... head to playschemas.com/free to see what there is for you!

Join us for the 2026 Family Preset from the 12-16th January. Jump on the waitlist here!Why is your toddler obsessed with pouring, tipping, splashing, and carrying cups of water around the house?In this episode, Shelly from HapiTap and I dive into the world of water play through the lens of play schemas, so you can finally understand what your child is learning every time they head straight for the tap, bath, or puddle.If you’ve ever wondered “Is this normal?” or “Why does water play keep them so focused?”, this episode breaks it all down in a way that feels reassuring, practical, and totally doable for busy parents. You’ll learn what water play looks like from 1–5 years, why it holds such power for early learning, and how simple setups at home can support your child’s confidence, curiosity, and brain development.We’ll explore: • How the top 10 play schemas are visible in water play • Why messy play supports problem-solving, early science concepts, and sensory regulation • Easy, low-prep ways to offer water play (yes, even indoors!) • Helpful phrases you can use to guide, validate, and extend your child’s play • How understanding schemas can reduce behaviour battles and boost cooperationWhether you love water play or quietly dread the mess, this episode will help you see it with fresh eyes and feel confident saying “yes” more often.If this episode supports you, hit follow, share it with another parent, or send me your child’s favourite water play setup. I love hearing from you!Want to find out more about the HapiTap? Head to @HapiTap_OfficalSend us a textJoin us for the 2026 Family Preset from the 12-16th January 2026. Jump on the waitlist here! If you’ve ever wished you had a group of parents who just get it — welcome to The Play Schemas Collective. It’s where you can ask questions without judgement, share those little wins only another parent would understand, and dive deeper into your child’s play with people who speak your language. Join us at playschemas.com/collective — we can’t wait to meet you.Support the showIf 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 @[email protected] and if you are keen for a freebie... head to playschemas.com/free to see what there is for you!

Join us for the 2026 Family Preset from the 12-16th January. Jump on the waitlist here!Is your toddler more interested in the box than the toy this Christmas? You’re not alone, and there’s a reason behind it!In this episode of Demystifying Child’s Play, we’re kicking off our festive three-part miniseries, A Playful Christmas, exploring how understanding play schemas can bring more calm, confidence, and connection into your holiday season. If you’ve ever wondered why your child throws, spins, hides, or moves things around, this episode explains exactly what’s happening in their brain and why it matters for their learning and development.Ruth Vercoe shares practical tips for matching toys to your child’s natural play style, simple ideas for using everyday items creatively, and strategies to manage toy overload so your home stays playful, not chaotic. You’ll discover how to choose gifts that truly support your child’s growth, boost their independence, and make play more meaningful for both of you.Tune in to transform the way you approach Christmas playtime, reduce stress, and celebrate the joy of play. Don’t forget to subscribe, share with fellow parents, and check out show notes and free guides at playschemas.com/blog and playschemas.com/free.Send us a textJoin us for the 2026 Family Preset from the 12-16th January 2026. Jump on the waitlist here! If you’ve ever wished you had a group of parents who just get it — welcome to The Play Schemas Collective. It’s where you can ask questions without judgement, share those little wins only another parent would understand, and dive deeper into your child’s play with people who speak your language. Join us at playschemas.com/collective — we can’t wait to meet you.Support the showIf 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 @[email protected] and if you are keen for a freebie... head to playschemas.com/free to see what there is for you!