If play feels like one more thing on your list, this episode is going to change that. Albiona sits down with Dr. Kim Van Dusen — registered play therapist, licensed marriage and family therapist, and author of Parenting Through Play — to talk about what play actually is, why parents have it backwards, and how a more playful approach leads to less defiance, fewer meltdowns, and a home that just feels better.
Dr. Kim brings 20 years of clinical experience and 12 years of parenting into a conversation that is practical, permission-giving, and full of ideas you can use today — even on your most exhausted days.
Inside, they explore:
→ Why most parents misunderstand play — and why the parent who says “play isn’t for me” is actually the one who needs this most
→ The connection between play and behavior: why kids who feel connected through play are more likely to listen, cooperate, and follow through — and what happens when that connection is missing
→ How to handle tantrums, power struggles, and resistant kids using play-based strategies that actually work — including the sand timer trick and how to gamify chores
→ Why independent play matters more than most parents realize — and why boredom is a problem for kids to solve, not parents to fix
→ Practical play ideas for the transitions that drain you most: mealtime, bedtime, morning routines, and getting out the door — without the fight
About Dr. Kim Van Dusen:
Dr. Kim Van Dusen is a registered play therapist and licensed marriage and family therapist with nearly 20 years of clinical experience. She is the author of Parenting Through Play, a research-backed, practical guide that combines play therapy, solution-focused therapy, and PBIS to help parents build deeper connection and better behavior — without the power struggles.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
→ Get Parenting Through Play by Dr. Kim Van Dusen
→ Follow Dr. Kim on Instagram — @theparentologist
→ Visit Dr. Kim’s website — theparentologist.com
→ Listen to The Parentologist Podcast — available wherever you listen to podcasts
Connect with Albiona:
→ Book a Free Discovery Call (1:1 Coaching) — https://www.theparentingreframe.com/coaching
→ Follow Albiona on Instagram — @theparentingreframe
→ Join Albiona’s Paid Substack Community — https://theparentingreframe.substack.com
→ Email Albiona directly — albiona@theparentingreframe.com
Loved this episode?
Please rate, review, and share this one with a parent who’s exhausted by the fighting, the resistance, and the constant correcting. Play isn’t the opposite of discipline — it’s what makes discipline work. The more parents hear that, the better.
Until next time,
Albiona 🤎
The Parenting Reframe Podcast is edited by JAG Podcast Productions: https://jagpodcastproductions.com/
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