Child Psych Podcast Episode #201

About your Hosts

Tania Johnson and Tammy Schamuhn are registered psychologists, co-founders of the Institute of Child Psychology, and moms to five children between them. Both specialize in children’s mental health and bring extensive experience in play therapy, parenting, attachment, and emotional development. In this episode of The Child Psych Podcast, they share practical play therapy-inspired strategies parents can use at home.

Introduction to the Conversation

“Will you play with me?”

For some parents, those words bring instant joy. For others, they bring a tiny wave of panic: What am I supposed to do?

The good news is that connecting through play doesn’t require you to be naturally playful, endlessly creative, or willing to spend hours pretending to be a dinosaur. Play is one of the primary ways children process emotions, build competence, develop social-emotional skills, and connect with the adults they love.

In this episode, Tania and Tammy break down simple ways parents can enter a child’s world of play without taking it over.

What We Discuss in This Episode

You’ll learn how to create short, manageable periods of child-led play, why fewer distractions can lead to deeper play, and how letting your child become the “director” can take pressure off parents who aren’t sure what to do.

Tania and Tammy also introduce practical play therapy skills, including the “whisper technique,” sports casting, reflecting emotions, and allowing children to define their own toys, characters, and stories. They also explore how play can transform difficult parenting moments—from getting dressed to brushing teeth—by increasing connection and reducing power struggles.

What You’ll Learn

• How to make play feel manageable—even if playing doesn’t come naturally
• Why following your child’s lead can deepen connection
• Simple play therapy techniques you can use at home
• How play can help children express emotions and experiences
• How playful parenting can make routines, transitions, and challenging moments easier

Who This Episode Is For

This episode is especially helpful for parents and caregivers of young children, as well as educators, therapists, and professionals interested in play, attachment, emotional regulation, and healthy child development.

Want to Go Deeper?

If conversations like this leave you wanting to better understand what’s happening underneath your child’s emotions and behaviour, join us for the FREE ICP Children’s Mental Health + Parenting Summit, November 16–19, 2026.

We’re bringing together leading voices in parenting and children’s mental health for four days of practical, research-informed conversations about anxiety, big feelings, behaviour, trauma, attachment, screens, resilience, and so much more.

Registration is free—come learn with us and discover practical tools to help the children in your life thrive.