228 - Creating Play Taxonomies with Max Alexander

The Forest School Podcast

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In this calm, reflective conversation, Lewis and Wem sit down with play worker and artist Max Alexander of Play Radical to explore autistic play as a joyful, valid, and richly varied landscape. Max shares how one to one playwork can reconnect isolated young people to authentic play, why reflection habits from nursing training shaped their practice, and how non extractive documentation like session haiku can honour privacy while communicating value. The trio unpack the difference between rigid taxonomies and Max’s lighter play shapes, discuss why autistic play matters for wellbeing today rather than only for future outcomes, and explore practitioner shorthand that helps teams notice and scaffold emerging shapes. The second half turns to adult play, instincts, and the social barriers that police how bodies move in public. The result is a practical and humane guide to noticing more, intervening less, and creating space where play can breathe.

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00:43 Windy morning intro and Max joins the chat
02:11 What Play Radical is and how Max works across roles
03:47 One to one playwork and inclusion for isolated autistic children
05:22 From nursing to The Yard and how practice took shape
08:03 Reflection habits and a commitment to accessible information
13:06 Haiku as non extractive documentation and a live example
16:25 Play shapes versus taxonomies and how to hold them lightly
22:34 Why autistic play matters for wellbeing and joy right now
23:26 Practitioner shorthand and supporting emerging shapes
33:42 Adult play instincts and barriers in public spaces

Autistic play, play shapes, neurodiversity, inclusive playwork, one to one playwork, reflective practice, haiku documentation, Forest School, Bob Hughes play types, practitioner shorthand, adult play, privacy in play, anti ableism, teen play, Play Radical, The Yard Edinburgh

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