Demystifying Child's Play | Play Schemas
Kia ora, Hello! I’m Ruth Vercoe, a teacher-turned-mum, here on a mission to demystify Child’s Play through understanding play schemas.
If you’ve ever found yourself asking, 'Why is my child doing that?'—whether it’s throwing their soft toys, hiding stones around the house, or lining up their crayons —then you’re in the right place, and certainly not alone.
Here, we’ll explore the magic of play through the lens of play schemas—those hidden repeated patterns in your child’s behaviour that hold the key to unlocking more meaningful play and connection.
Join me each week as we dive into playful insights that will help you bring more joy, connection and understanding into your parenting journey.
Get in contact at
Email Ruth@Playschemas.com
Facebook and Instagram @Play_Schemas
Episodes
75 episodes
074 5 Things AI Can’t Take Away From You as a Parent
AI can write shopping lists, plan meals, and even help manage the mental load of parenting, but there are some things technology will never replace.In this episode of Demystifying Child’s Play, Ruth Vercoe explores the beautiful...
073 How We Threw a Dinosaur Birthday Party on a Budget
What happens when you throw a dinosaur birthday party with borrowed decorations, homemade food, muddy slime, and a backyard volcano? Apparently… pure childhood magic.In this episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes of my son’s fifth din...
072 The Best Investment in Your Child’s Future Isn’t Money (It’s Play)
The Most Powerful Investment in Your Child’s Future (It’s Not Money) | Toddler Play, Brain Development & Play Schemas ExplainedYou’ve probably heard people talk about investing in your child’s future… saving for scho...
071 Why Your Toddler’s ‘Challenging Behaviour’ Is Actually Normal (Play Schemas Explained for Parents)
If you’ve ever wondered…Why your toddler throws things constantly…Why toys somehow end up scattered across every room…Or why your child lines up their snacks instead of eating them…You’re not alone.And you’re not do...
070 The Simple Trick That Protects Your Child’s Play (Work in Progress Cards)
Ever tidied up your child’s “mess”… only to trigger a meltdown? 😅What if that mess wasn’t mess at all, but learning in progress?This tiny tool changed everything in our home:✨ Work in Progress cards✨ Fewer melt...
069 Is Your Child Obsessed with Poo? Here’s What to Know
Has your child talked about poo today? 💩😅If you’ve got a toddler or preschooler, chances are… yes.But before you panic or feel embarrassed, this phase is completely normal. And more than that? It’s actually a window into how y...
068 Play Schema Series - Enveloping 101
Why does your child love wrapping themselves in blankets, hiding toys in bags, or covering everything in paint? It’s not mess... it’s the Enveloping Play Schema.In this final episode of our 10-part play schemas series on Demys...
067 Play Schema Series - Enclosure 101
Why your child keeps fencing things in (and why it matters)If your toddler is constantly building walls, creating “no entry” zones, drawing borders, or sitting inside boxes and small spaces, you’re not raising a bossy or controlli...
066 Play Schema Series - Orientation 101
Why is your child always upside down? It might be the Orientation Play Schema.In this episode of Demystifying Child’s Play, we explore the orientation play schema, the powerful drive behind children hanging up...
065 Play Schema Series - Rotation 101
The reason spinning is actually good for your child (Rotation Play Schema)Is your toddler constantly spinning, twisting taps, rolling wheels, or obsessing over anything that turns? It’s not chaos, it’s the Rotation Play Schema<...
064 Play Schema Series - Positioning 101
Positioning Play Schema… Why Toddlers Line Things UpHave 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 ep...
063 Play Schema Series - Transportation 101
Transportation Play Schema Explained... Why Toddlers Carry Everything EverywhereHave 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 tedd...
062 Play Schema Series - Age Specific Trajectory Behaviour
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 cou...
061 Play Schema Series - Transformation 101
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 ...
060 Play Schema Series - Disconnection 101
What is the Disconnection Play Schema? A 101 OverviewHave 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?...
059 Play Schema Series - Connection 101
What is the connection play schema… and why does your child seem driven to tie, tape, build, and join everything together?In this episode, we’re starting with a foundational question: what exactly is the connection schema, a...
058 Tired of “New Year, New Me”? Try a Family Preset Instead
Join the free 2026 Family Preset: https://playschemas.com/presetFeeling tired already, and the year’s only just begun?If “new year, new me” feels more exhausting than motivating, this epis...
057 How Play Can Transform Your Parenting in 2026
Join the 2026 Family Preset waitlist! Preset week is 12th-16th January 2026.The new year can feel full of pressure, new routines, new goals, and the quiet expectation that everything should su...
056 From Baubles to Tantrums: How Play Schemas Can Transform Your Christmas Day with Toddlers
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, ...
055 Less Stuff, More Play: Creating a Connected Christmas
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 ...
054 The Secret Language of Play: How to Read What Your Child Is Telling 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 ...
053 Water Play + Play Schemas: 10 Ways Kids Learn Through Splashing, Pouring & Play
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...
.jpg)
052 A Playful Christmas: Understanding Your Child’s Play for Calm, Joyful Holidays
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 r...
.jpg)
.jpg)