x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

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

kids & family parenting

All Episodes

6:50

068 Play Schema Series - Enveloping 101

Demystifying Child"s Play | Play Schemas ·

2026/03/25

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 Demystifying Child’s Play, Ruth Vercoe breaks down what enveloping play really is, how to spot it in toddlers and preschoolers, and why it supports early maths, science, body awareness, and emotional regulation. You’ll also learn the key difference between enveloping and enc...

en-nz

7:00

067 Play Schema Series - Enclosure 101

Demystifying Child"s Play | Play Schemas ·

2026/03/18

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 controlling child. You’re seeing the Enclosure Play Schema in action. In this episode of Demystifying Child’s Play, Ruth Vercoe breaks down enclosure play and explains why children are driven to surround, fence, and define spaces in their play. Learn how enclosure supports s...

en-nz

6:33

066 Play Schema Series - Orientation 101

Demystifying Child"s Play | Play Schemas ·

2026/03/11

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 upside down, climbing high, bending through their legs, and constantly changing their perspective. If your toddler loves to roll, invert, tip, and view the world from every possible angle, they’re not being reckless or attention-seeking. They’re learning. Discover what orientation pl...

en-nz

8:18

065 Play Schema Series - Rotation 101

Demystifying Child"s Play | Play Schemas ·

2026/03/04

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. In this episode of Demystifying Child’s Play, we unpack why children are drawn to spinning and circular movement, what their brains and bodies are learning, and how rotation play supports maths, science, problem-solving, balance, and body awareness. You’ll also discov...

en-nz

6:21

064 Play Schema Series - Positioning 101

Demystifying Child"s Play | Play Schemas ·

2026/02/25

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 th...

en-nz

8:06

063 Play Schema Series - Transportation 101

Demystifying Child"s Play | Play Schemas ·

2026/02/18

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. Whi...

en-nz

10:53

062 Play Schema Series - Age Specific Trajectory...

Demystifying Child"s Play | Play Schemas ·

2026/02/11

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, insti...

en-nz

9:45

061 Play Schema Series - Transformation 101

Demystifying Child"s Play | Play Schemas ·

2026/02/04

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...

en-nz

6:20

060 Play Schema Series - Disconnection 101

Demystifying Child"s Play | Play Schemas ·

2026/01/28

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,...

en-nz

7:05

059 Play Schema Series - Connection 101

Demystifying Child"s Play | Play Schemas ·

2026/01/21

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, and why does it matter so much in early childhood development? Schemas are deep, instinctive urges that drive children’s play. They aren’t random behaviors—they’re the brain’s way of building foundations for lifelong learning. And the connection schema is all about how thi...

en-nz

7:20

058 Tired of “New Year, New Me”? Try a Family Preset...

Demystifying Child"s Play | Play Schemas ·

2026/01/07

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 ev...

en-nz

9:05

057 How Play Can Transform Your Parenting in 2026

Demystifying Child"s Play | Play Schemas ·

2025/12/31

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 perspe...

en-nz

15:23

056 From Baubles to Tantrums: How Play Schemas Can...

Demystifying Child"s Play | Play Schemas ·

2025/12/17

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, c...

en-nz

9:08

055 Less Stuff, More Play: Creating a Connected...

Demystifying Child"s Play | Play Schemas ·

2025/12/10

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. Mor...

en-nz

6:56

054 The Secret Language of Play: How to Read What...

Demystifying Child"s Play | Play Schemas ·

2025/12/03

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 todd...

en-nz

28:22

053 Water Play + Play Schemas: 10 Ways Kids Learn...

Demystifying Child"s Play | Play Schemas ·

2025/11/26

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, pract...

en-nz

9:50

052 A Playful Christmas: Understanding Your Child’s...

Demystifying Child"s Play | Play Schemas ·

2025/11/19

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...

en-nz

26:56

051 Nourishing Nutrition for Mums: Preconception to...

Demystifying Child"s Play | Play Schemas ·

2025/11/12

How can mums nourish themselves through conception, pregnancy, and beyond? NZ dietitian Hannah Ericksen from oh Goodness Nutrition joins Ruth Vercoe to unpack nutrition for mums , the real, practical kind. From the “first thousand days” to postpartum recovery, discover how small changes can make a lifelong impact for you and your baby. You’ll learn: Why the first thousand days are so important for baby’s lifelong healthThe 3 food groups every mum needs more of (and how to make it easy)How to ...

en-nz

20:56

050 Create a Connected, Calm, and Joy-Filled...

Demystifying Child"s Play | Play Schemas ·

2025/11/05

What Your Child Really Wants for Christmas (It’s Not What’s Under the Tree) This week on Demystifying Child’s Play, Ruth Vercoe is joined by Linda from The Thriving Home and The Connection Couple to explore what truly makes Christmas magical... connection. If you’ve ever felt torn between creating a picture-perfect holiday and actually being present with your kids, this episode will help you slow down, simplify, and reconnect. Linda shares her and her husband Matt’s Connection Firs...

en-nz

33:54

049 Connect Before You Correct: Parenting...

Demystifying Child"s Play | Play Schemas ·

2025/10/29

Ever wondered how to truly connect with your neurodiverse child, especially when life feels like one long guessing game? In this episode of Demystifying Child’s Play, host Ruth Vercoe welcomes Sarah from We Are Equal — a mum of four, early childhood teacher, and passionate advocate for neurodiversity, to share the five powerful lessons she wishes she’d known going into parenting her autistic son. From navigating “safe foods” and understanding sensory overload to handling social pressur...

en-nz

69 results

Similar Podcasts

Tale Teller Kids

Sarnia de la Mare

米克馬故事坊

咪萊

Imagination Station

Imagination Station

Die Pferde sind nicht das Problem - und du bist nicht zu blöd. Der Aha-Podcast für Pferdemenschen

Silke Jahn & Maren Diehl

Hanna fragt Papa - Der Podcast für neugierige Kinder und Eltern

Hanna und Thomas Schamberger