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Ever feel like your toddler is just ignoring you on purpose?
You’ve asked nicely (three times), tried raising your voice, or even taken a toy away — and still, they won’t listen. Before you start second-guessing yourself or wondering if it’s just your child, take a deep breath. You are not alone — and there’s a powerful reason behind this common toddler behaviour.

In this episode, Ruth sits down with parenting and behaviour specialist Heather Schalk to uncover why toddlers really don’t listen — and it’s not what you might think.

Connect with Heather
https://heatherschalkparentingblog.com/
@HeatherSchalkParenting

This conversation dives into what’s going on beneath the surface of toddler behaviour. We explore how so-called “defiance” is often a sign of underdeveloped emotional, communication, or social skills — not a problem with your parenting.

Together, Ruth and Heather unpack:

• Why toddlers ignore instructions (spoiler: it's not always intentional!)
• The Toddler Reactivity Loop — what it is, how to spot it, and how to break the cycle
• The role of play schemas in behaviour — and how to work with them, not against them
• How to tell if your toddler is actually regulated and ready to listen
• Why “connect before correct” leads to calmer, more confident parenting

Practical Tips You Can Use Right Away

This isn’t just theory — it’s full of real-world strategies for real-life parents. You’ll learn how to:

• Tune in to your child’s cues before giving instructions
• Use transition items and visual cues to support smoother routines
• Respond to big emotions with empathy — while still holding boundaries
• Teach self-advocacy phrases like “My turn next” or “I’m not done yet”
• Praise natural moments of waiting or cooperation to build emotional resilience
• Reframe common challenges (like spilling milk or toy-throwing) into learning moments

You’ll hear relatable examples from Heather’s own life with twins and Ruth’s practical insights into how play schemas shape your child’s behaviour — even when it seems challenging.

You’re Doing Better Than You Think!

Parenting toddlers is exhausting. It’s full of curveballs, chaos, and so many questions. But with just a little shift in perspective, you can turn everyday frustrations into meaningful opportunities for growth — for both you and your child.

This episode will leave you feeling supported, seen, and more confident in your role as your child’s first teacher. Whether you’re folding laundry, walking the pram, or hiding in the pantry for five minutes’ peace, this one’s for you.

Want More Support? For more on play schemas, child development, and daily ideas to support your little one’s learning journey, head to our Freebies page:
www.playschemas.com/free

You’ll find free downloads, activity ideas, and inspiration to make play more purposeful — and parenting a little less stressful.

Let’s Keep the Conversation Going

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Support the show

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

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What if your toddler’s obsession with mud, watering cans, or hauling carrots isn’t just play—but a window into how they learn best?

In this episode of Demystifying Child’s Play, we take you into the garden—yes, dirt and all—to uncover how vegetable gardening can reveal powerful insights about your child’s development. Whether your little one is digging, transporting soil, or burying seeds, these actions aren’t random. They’re part of play schemas—the natural, repetitive behaviours that show us how young children are making sense of the world.

As a parent, it can feel tricky to know what’s “just play” and what’s meaningful learning.

This episode helps you connect the dots. We break down what’s happening beneath the surface when your child is knee-deep in garden soil, and how to support their growth without needing fancy toys, Pinterest-perfect setups, or rigid routines.

In this episode you'll discover:

• What Play Schemas are—and why they matter so much in the early years
• How simple garden activities like watering, digging, and harvesting relate to specific schemas like trajectory, transporting, enveloping, and positioning
• Why repetition is not a sign of boredom, but a signal your child is deep in learning
• How to identify and nurture your child’s unique play preferences
• Easy ways to support schema play in everyday garden moments (even with limited space!)
  
  
  

You’ll also get practical tips like:

• How to set up a toddler-friendly garden area (without needing a full backyard)
• What to say (or not say) to encourage schema-rich exploration
• How to gently support your child’s independence without hovering
• Ideas for turning daily gardening into purposeful, brain-building fun

Whether you're a parent with a veggie patch, a few potted herbs, or no garden at all—this episode will shift how you see your child's play. It's about meeting them where they are and celebrating the little moments that are soaked in learning (and sometimes water too!).

You’re not just raising a child—you’re raising a curious learner.
Let this episode inspire you to view everyday messes, garden tasks, and muddy hands as essential parts of their developmental journey. You don’t need to do more—just see more. And that starts with understanding the magic of play schemas.

Listen now and dig into the hidden learning happening in your garden.
Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode full of insight, encouragement, and schema-savvy parenting support.

🌱 Want even more Play Schema ideas and inspiration?
Head over to our Freebies page for practical tools, cheat sheets, and fresh ideas to support your child’s play journey:
playschemas.com/free

💬 Loved this episode? Share it with a fellow parent, leave a review, or tag us @play_schemas on Instagram—we’d love to hear how your child’s garden play is growing!

Support the show

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

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Free download available!
Grab your free Easter Play Ideas PDF with all 10 schema-based activities, family-friendly versions, and our go-to oaty pancake recipe at playschemas.com/free

Feeling overwhelmed by all the Easter hype—and wondering how to make it meaningful for your toddler?

In this episode of Demystifying Child’s Play, we’re diving into how you can use this Easter season to truly support your child’s development—without extra stress or sugar overload.

We’ll show you how to harness the power of play schemas—the natural, repetitive play behaviours all children engage in—to create fun, intentional Easter activities that meet your child right where they are developmentally. Whether they’re throwing, stacking, wrapping, or endlessly transporting things from one place to another, this episode will help you understand why they play this way—and how to build on it.

This isn’t about picture-perfect Pinterest crafts. It’s about easy, real-life ideas that work with your child’s current play urges, not against them. And the best part? You likely already have what you need at home.

In this episode, we’ll cover:

• What play schemas actually are, and why they matter for child development
  
  
• Why Easter is the perfect time to support schema play (think baskets, eggs, nature walks)
  
  
• 10 simple, engaging Easter activity ideas—each linked to a specific schema
  
  
• How to include your toddler in Easter traditions that build emotional connection
  
  
• Bonus toddler-friendly recipes that support sensory exploration and independence
  
  
  

We’ve made sure every idea includes:

• An independent play version to support solo exploration
  
  
• A family version to foster bonding and shared joy
  
  
• No fancy materials or hours of prep—just meaningful, low-fuss fun
  
  
  

Whether you're a first-time parent or juggling multiple little ones, this episode is for you if:

• You want to understand your child’s behaviour instead of just managing it
  
  
• You’re looking for early learning tips that don’t require a teaching degree
  
  
• You’d love to make Easter special without going overboard
  
  
• You’re craving ways to connect more deeply with your child through play
  
  
  

You’re not just making Easter crafts—you’re building confidence, independence, and lifelong learning habits.

Free download available!
Grab your free Easter Play Ideas PDF with all 10 schema-based activities, family-friendly versions, and our go-to oaty pancake recipe at playschemas.com/free

Visit the full blog post here → playschemas.com/021
Follow along on Instagram → @play_schemas

If this episode made your parenting life a little easier today…
Please leave a review, subscribe, or share it with a friend who needs a bit more calm and conne

Support the show

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