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
Demystifying Child's Play | Play Schemas
058 Tired of “New Year, New Me”? Try a Family Preset Instead
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
Join the free 2026 Family Preset: https://playschemas.com/preset
Feeling tired already, and the year’s only just begun?
If “new year, new me” feels more exhausting than motivating, this episode offers a different way forward.
In this episode, Ruth introduces the 2026 Family Preset, a free, gentle, 5-day guided experience designed especially for parents of young children. No pressure. No hustle. Just clarity, connection, and small shifts that make family life feel lighter.
Instead of fixing everything, this is about deciding what really matters, and setting your family up for a calmer, more connected year.
What You’ll Learn
- Why clarity (not discipline) is often what’s missing when parenting feels hard
- How small, intentional shifts can change the tone of your whole family
- Why rest, connection, and repair matter more than perfection
- How understanding your child’s play can reduce frustration and conflict
- What it really means to “preset” your family for the year ahead
The 5 Days of the Family Preset
- Day 1: Starting with you, rest that actually restores
- Day 2: Parenting as a team (or with your support system)
- Day 3: Understanding your child through their play and schemas
- Day 4: Building connection into everyday routines
- Day 5: Protecting connection on the hard days through repair
Includes short daily videos, one small task a day, two weeks to complete it, and the chance to win over $500 in prizes.
Resources
- Join the free 2026 Family Preset: https://playschemas.com/preset
- Instagram DM option: https://instagram.com/playschemas
If this episode supported you, please subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and leave a review, it helps more parents find calm and clarity through play 💛
#DemystifyingChildsPlay #FamilyPreset #GentleParenting #PlayIsLearning #ConnectionOverConflict #ParentingSupport
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
Ruth@PlaySchemas.com
www.playschemas.com
and if you are keen for a freebie... head to playschemas.com/free to see what there is for you!