The Way of Play: Using Little Moments of Big Connection to Raise Calm and Confident Kids

Discover how short, daily, playful interactions with your kids can help them face their fears, handle big emotions, and bolster their social skills--by the New York Times bestselling co-author of The Whole-Brain Child and a renowned play therapist

Most parents understand that unstructured play time is good for a child’s attention span and creativity, but new science has discovered that specific, deliberate, playful interaction with parents is the key to their healthy emotional development and later resilience as well.

As Tina Payne Bryson and Georgie Wisen-Vincent explain, this doesn’t mean getting on all fours and making toy car sounds or enrolling a child in mommy-and-me classes; it’s the daily, little moments together that can make the most impact. In The Way of Play, they detail the seven playful techniques that harness this caregiving magic and take just a few minutes. You’ll learn how:

• Leaning Into Emotions helps your child let go of anxieties, drama and chaotic behavior
• Tuning Into the Body teaches a child to practice the art of surfing sensory waves
• Storytelling promotes better problem solving
• Thinking Out Loud fosters calmer thinking and stronger communication with you, their siblings, and everyone else

Full of science-backed research, real-life stories, and charming line illustrations, The Way of Play will help parents nurture kids who are calm listeners, cooperative problem solvers, and respectful communicators. Just as important, they’ll help families have more fun together.

Tina Payne Bryson, Ph.D., is the founder and executive director of The Center for Connection, a multidisciplinary clinical practice in Southern California. She is the co-author (with Dan Siegel) of four books, including the New York Times bestsellers The Whole-Brain Child and No-Drama Discipline. Dr. Bryson keynotes conferences and conducts workshops for parents, educators, and clinicians all over the world, and she frequently consults with schools, businesses, and other organizations.

Georgie Wisen-Vincent, LMFT, is a nationally recognized play therapy expert and the director and head of faculty for The Play Strong Institute, a continuing education and training organization for professionals and parents. She is a graduate professor in the play therapy program at Loma Linda University and a clinical supervisor of play therapy practicum at the Loma Linda Behavioral Health Institute.