Play Happens Podcast

✨ Play Happens is hosted by Jessica Degenhardt - Primary Educator, Masters in Special & Inclusive Education and passionate play advocate. Follow Jess on Instagram: ⁠@playhappensau⁠ 🎧 Follow Play Happens Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. 💌 Share this with someone who dreads leaving the house once winter arrives but wants simple ways to keep outdoor play part of family life. Have a que...

Are we pushing academics too early? In this episode, I unpack the growing pressure for children to read, write, and count before they even start school and why play may actually be the most important preparation for learning and for life. I explore: the difference between academic readiness and true school readiness why teachers are seeing more gaps in resilience, confidence and emotional regulati...

Can children still experience rich, meaningful play in small homes and crowded classrooms? Absolutely! In today’s episode, I’m answering a question from a teacher who wants to include more play in her classroom but worries there simply isn’t enough space. We unpack how open-ended play can thrive without giant playrooms, expensive resources or Pinterest-perfect setups. From masking tape obstacle co...

Are we accidentally protecting kids from the very experiences that help them build resilience? In this episode, I explore why children need opportunities to experience manageable discomfort - things like boredom, frustration, disappointment, failure and hearing “no” - and how play becomes one of the safest and most powerful ways for children to practise coping with hard feelings. This isn’t about...

Why does your child suddenly become obsessed with playing doctors, dentists, schools or dramatic rescue missions after an experience? In this episode, I explore how children use play to process ideas, emotions, fears and everyday experiences. From dentist role play to practical ways parents can support processing play without overcomplicating it, this episode is full of relatable insights and real...

Are activities and play actually the same thing? In this episode of The Play Happens Podcast , I explore the growing confusion between adult-led activities and true child-led play and why the difference matters more than ever. From sensory bins to curated learning setups, childhood has become increasingly structured and adult-directed. But what happens when activities begin replacing genuine play?...

This week we’re diving into one of the biggest parenting and early childhood topics out there: sharing. Why is sharing SO hard for young children? Are toddlers actually capable of understanding it yet? And what are we really asking of children when we expect them to hand over toys on demand? In this slightly longer episode, we unpack why sharing isn’t developmentally expected in the early years, t...

Rough and tumble play - is it too much… or actually exactly what kids need? In this episode, I’m responding to a question I get all the time: “Is it okay that my kids are always wrestling?” We unpack what rough and tumble play really is, why it matters for social development and how to support it safely - without shutting it down. ✨ Play Happens is hosted by Jessica Degenhardt - Primary Educator,...

Where have all the children gone? In this episode, I explore the disappearance of neighbourhood play, why it matters for kids’ independence and social skills, and how parents can help bring it back - safely, creatively and with a little bit of courage. ✨ Play Happens is hosted by Jessica Degenhardt - Primary Educator, Masters in Special & Inclusive Education and passionate play advocate. Foll...

Social play isn’t always calm, kind, or easy to watch… but it’s where some of the most important learning happens. In this episode, I explore why child-led social play matters, what it actually looks like and why stepping back as adults can be one of the most powerful things we do. If you’ve ever felt the urge to jump in and fix things for your child… this one’s for you. ✨ Play Happens is hosted...

Bedtime can feel like the longest part of the day - especially when you’re already running on empty. In this episode, I explore why bedtime is such a big transition, and how play, routine and realistic expectations can support both children and parents. ✨ Play Happens is hosted by Jessica Degenhardt - Primary Educator, Masters in Special & Inclusive Education and passionate play advocate. Fol...

Why do simple moments like leaving the house, turning off screens or getting dressed feel so hard? In this episode, I unpack what’s really going on during transitions and how play can help reduce resistance, support regulation and make everyday routines feel smoother. ✨ Play Happens is hosted by Jessica Degenhardt - Primary Educator, Masters in Special & Inclusive Education and passionate pla...

Setting boundaries around screens can feel impossible - especially when parents are exhausted. In this episode of Play Happens Podcast , I bring the conversation into real family life, exploring how to make intentional choices around technology without guilt. From algorithm-driven platforms to everyday survival moments, this episode offers practical ways to protect play while still honouring the r...

Technology is everywhere and parenting in a digital world can feel overwhelming. In this episode of Play Happens Podcast , I explore how different types of technology interact with children’s developing brains, what current research is showing and why play is such a critical protective factor. This episode isn’t about rules or guilt - it’s about awareness, balance and understanding what children n...

Parental leave can feel like a complete identity shift. In this episode, I share my personal experience of moving from a structured, purpose-driven career into the unpredictable world of caring for a baby - and the pressure I felt to do more , teach more and get it right . Through this reflection, I explore how my relationship with play evolved, why curated activities aren’t the gold standard we t...

When children want to help - sweep the floor, wipe the bench, carry the groceries - we often see it as a disruption. In this episode, I explore how those everyday moments can actually be play and why letting kids help (imperfectly and on their own terms) supports skill development, confidence and a sense of belonging. A gentle reframe for parents who feel torn between getting things done and letti...

Play is meant to be simple - so why does it feel so hard sometimes? In this episode, I explore why many parents struggle with play, especially unstructured play, and why that discomfort is completely normal. From feeling unsure of your role to being wired for outcomes, this episode offers reassurance, perspective and practical ways to take the pressure off. If play feels awkward, draining or harde...

Have you ever felt pressured to buy the “right” toy, hoping it will keep your child entertained or make them smarter? In this episode, I explore why toys alone don’t make play magical, how kids often surprise us with what they actually engage with, and simple ways to encourage creativity, imagination and real play at home. ✨ Play Happens is hosted by Jessica Degenhardt - Primary Educator, Masters...

The “favoured parent” phase can feel heavy for everyone involved. In this episode, I explore why children sometimes cling to one parent, why it’s not a reflection of love or parenting ability and how play can gently support connection without forcing separation.  A reassuring listen for parents navigating big feelings, uneven loads and the quiet doubts that can creep in during this phase. ✨ Play...

Play often gets misunderstood. Parents and educators alike may measure it by activities or outcomes, thinking learning and play sit on opposite sides of a line. Play isn’t one thing - and understanding the different forms can lift the pressure parents and educators feel. In this episode, I explore free play, guided play, games, and adult-led learning, and how each shapes children’s growth. ✨ Play...

In this episode of Play Happens , I share five tiny play experiments that parents and educators can try this week - no special materials, no planning, no pressure. These simple shifts invite deeper curiosity, creativity and independence, while reminding us that play isn’t just fun - it’s fundamental. Perfect for tired adults who want meaningful play without the overwhelm. ✨ Play Happens is hosted...

What happens when risky play doesn’t disappear because parents are afraid - but because environments decide risk itself is the problem? In this episode of Play Happens Podcast , I zoom out to explore how playground rules, policies and reactions to injury are slowly designing risk out of childhood. From flattened play spaces to calls for playgrounds to be removed after an accident, we unpack what f...

After a long school day, kids aren’t just tired - they’re juggling movement, learning and social challenges. In this episode, I share why the hours after school matter and practical strategies for resetting your child’s mind and body using connection, snacks, rest and play. ✨ Play Happens is hosted by Jessica Degenhardt - Primary Educator, Masters in Special & Inclusive Education and passiona...

When kids’ calendars are jam-packed, everyone feels it - including parents. In this episode, I explore how too many structured activities can quietly steal rest, free play and creativity, and why slowing down might be the best gift for your family. ✨ Play Happens is hosted by Jessica Degenhardt - Primary Educator, Masters in Special & Inclusive Education and passionate play advocate. Follow J...

Free play is disappearing and it matters more than we realise. In this opening episode of Season 2, I explore why children have less freedom to play than ever before, what free play actually builds in the developing brain and how families can gently reclaim it without adding more to their plates. Because play isn’t extra - it’s fundamental! ✨ Play Happens is hosted by Jessica Degenhardt - Primary...