Claim OwnershipDemystifying Child's Play | Play Schemas
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© 2026 Demystifying Child's Play | Play Schemas
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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
68 Episodes
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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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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,...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Join us for the 2026 Family Preset from the 12-16th January. Jump on the waitlist here! 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...
Join us for the 2026 Family Preset from the 12-16th January. Jump on the waitlist here! 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 chi...
Join us for the 2026 Family Preset from the 12-16th January. Jump on the waitlist here! 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 ...
Join us for the 2026 Family Preset from the 12-16th January. Jump on the waitlist here! 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...
Join us for the 2026 Family Preset from the 12-16th January. Jump on the waitlist here! 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 l...
Join us for the 2026 Family Preset from the 12-16th January. Jump on the waitlist here! 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...
Join us for the 2026 Family Preset from the 12-16th January. Jump on the waitlist here! 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. Fr...
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