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 suddenly feel more “together.” But if you’re parenting a toddler or preschooler and your day still involves toast on the floor and snack requests five minutes after breakfast, you’re not doing it wrong.

In this episode of Demystifying Child’s Play, we’re welcoming 2026 with a gentler, more grounded perspective on parenting, one that replaces overwhelm with understanding and helps you reconnect with what really matters: your child’s play.

You’ll be introduced (or reintroduced) to play schemas, the repetitive patterns of play that are hardwired into how young children learn and develop. We’ll explore why behaviours like throwing, lining up, spinning, enclosing, and pulling things apart aren’t “phases to fix,” but meaningful learning in action. When you understand what’s driving your child’s play, parenting starts to feel more intentional, less frustrating, and surprisingly more joyful.

Through real-life examples and relatable moments from family life, this episode breaks down how play schemas support cognitive development, emotional regulation, physical coordination, and confidence, all without worksheets or structured activities. You’ll also hear practical ways to spot schemas in your own child’s play, how to support them using simple, everyday materials, and why protecting time for child-led play is one of the most powerful investments you can make this year.

We’ll also touch on something parents don’t hear often enough: play isn’t just good for children, it’s good for us too. Joining your child in play, even briefly, builds connection, supports emotional wellbeing, and reminds us that joy and learning don’t need to be separate.

If you’re stepping into the new year wanting less pressure, more confidence, and a deeper connection with your child, this episode is for you.

Subscribe to the podcast, share this episode with another parent who needs this reminder, and come continue the conversation with me over on Instagram @play_schemas. For free resources and further support, visit playschemas.com.

Because you don’t need to add more this year, you just need to understand what’s already there. And today is a great day to play.