007 Christmas Play Schemas: Tips & Scenarios

Demystifying Child's Play | Play Schemas

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Is your child tossing baubles, spinning ornaments, or carrying presents across the room? Before you wonder if they’re being “naughty,” take a deep breath—they’re not being difficult; they’re being explorers! In this episode, we’ll decode these behaviours through the lens of play schemas, helping you see the magic in your child’s play this Christmas.

✨ What’s Inside This Episode?
Christmas can be a magical time, but for parents of young children, it’s often filled with unexpected moments. Your toddler’s fascination with spinning decorations, piling presents, or mixing food can leave you feeling frustrated or embarrassed—especially when relatives raise an eyebrow. But what if you could make sense of it all?

In this episode, I’ll help you understand these quirky actions as play schemas—a natural part of your child’s development that allows them to learn, grow, and make sense of the world. You’ll gain practical tools to:
✅ Recognise the most common play schemas in action this Christmas.
✅ Redirect your child’s play in ways that support their development and protect the festive vibe.
✅ Explain their behaviour to family members with confidence and clarity.

🎄 Real-Life Festive Scenarios & Solutions
Here’s a taste of what we’ll cover:

Trajectory Schema: Throwing baubles or tossing wrapping paper? They’re exploring movement and physics—offer soft balls or paper snowballs instead.
Transporting Schema: Carrying gifts across the room? They’re mastering coordination—set up a ‘delivery station’ to channel this energy.
Enveloping Schema: Wrapping themselves (or the dog!) in blankets? They’re exploring boundaries—provide scarves or a box they can crawl into.
Rotation Schema: Spinning ornaments or twirling in circles? It’s all about balance and coordination—encourage safe spinning toys or activities.
Transforming Schema: Mixing food or tearing paper? They’re little scientists experimenting—give them playdough or edible ‘safe science’ tasks.

These scenarios—and more—will give you simple, actionable tips to turn potential chaos into calm, all while fostering your child’s natural curiosity.

🎁 The Cheat Sheet You’ll Love
To make this even easier, I’ve created a free cheat sheet summarising these insights. Whether you print it for quick reference or share it with family, it’s a practical way to front-foot those awkward conversations and keep everyone on the same page. Download it here: 👉

Send us a text

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 show

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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
[email protected]
www.playschemas.com

and if you are keen for a freebie... head to playschemas.com/free to see what there is for you!

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#Parenting #Ruth Vercoe #Play #Play Schemas #Parenting Tips #Cognitive Development #Understanding Play #Child Play Patterns #Child Development #Supporting Child Learning #Podcasting Education #Learn Play #Play-based Learning Podcast