Dr Play

Episode Description

Dr Kate Renshaw sits down with fellow APPTA Registered Play Therapist (RPT™) Caz Hynes to unpack what Toy Story 5 gets right, about childhood in the age of AI companions. From Bonnie's shifting attention toward Lilypad, a talking AI tablet, to a sleepover scene that captures exactly what's lost when screens do the socialising, this episode moves through doll play and theory of mind, the "cortical complexity gap" between adult and child brains, and why the drawer of retired tech toys in the film might be more developmentally telling than anyone expected.

This isn't a takedown of technology. It's an invitation, as Caz puts it, to notice who's leading the play.

Key Topics

• Why Toy Story 5's PG rating surprised Caz, and what's really being signalled underneath it
• Lilypad: not a villain, but a case study in what happens without adult scaffolding
• The cortical complexity gap: why adults with fully developed brains struggle to hold a child's still-developing perspective in mind
• The sleepover scene and the shift from connection to self-focus and status
• Doll play as sophisticated developmental work: empathy, theory of mind, and social conscience
• Why Bonnie's elaborate pretend play is a sign of advanced development, not falling behind
• The "it's just a kids' tablet" trap, and why perceived safety often means less oversight
• The old tech drawer: Smarty Pants, Atlas, and Snappy as a bridge between analogue toys and AI
• What cause-and-effect, tactile toys still offer growing brains that a flat screen can't
• Caz's takeaway for parents: it's not all-or-nothing, it's about who's leading the play

Resources & Links

• Read Dr Kate's related article on Bounty Parents: Toy Story 5: A Message for Parents
• Catch Caz's first appearance on the Dr Play podcast: [The Art of Speaking Kid] https://drplay.buzzsprout.com/2375677/episodes/17173844-coming-full-circle-how-play-shapes-friendships-therapists-and-parents
• Connect with Caz Hynes: We Speak Kid | LinkedIn: Carolyn Hynes

About Dr Play

Dr Kate Renshaw (Dr Play) is a Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor (RPT-S™), Founding Director of Play & Filial Therapy, and host of the Dr Play podcast, which considers play as a fundamental investment in humankind.

Episode Tags

#DrPlayPodcast #ToyStory5 #PlayTherapy #ChildDevelopment #ScreenTime #DigitalParenting #WeSpeakKid #Parenting #ChildhoodDevelopment #PlayMatters

This episode of the Dr Play podcast considers play as a fundamental investment in humankind. 

Episode Summary

In this episode, Dr Kate Renshaw (Dr Play) is joined by Meg Ellard, Senior Play Therapist and Clinical Lead at Playroom Therapy, and newly elected APPTA Board Member. Meg brings both clinical expertise and lived experience as a neurodivergent practitioner to a rich conversation about what neuro-affirming practice actually looks like — in the playroom, in schools, and at home.

Together they explore what neurodiversity really means (it's broader than you might think), why rejecting the concept of neurotypicality as a standard matters, and how play is uniquely positioned to support neurodivergent children to feel safe, known, and free to be themselves.

This is a conversation for play therapists, allied health practitioners, educators, and parents — and honestly, for anyone who has ever wondered whether the way we respond to difference is about the child, or about us.

In this episode we cover:

• What neurodiversity (Judy Singer) and neurodivergent (Kassiane Asasumasu) actually mean, and where these terms come from 
• The frameworks of Sonny Jane Moore (Lived Experience Educator) and Raelene Dundon (Play Therapist and Psychologist) and and why they matter in clinical practice
• What neuro-affirming practice looks like before a child even walks into the playroom
• Undesirable to whom? Stimming, eye contact, and more.  
• The tension between the social model and medical model of disability — and why it matters for families navigating the NDIS and school systems
• Why play is uniquely neuro-affirming by nature, and the difference between "free play" and freedom to play
• Supporting parents — including neurodivergent parents — to find their own way into play with their child
• Meg's own neurodivergent journey and why she chose to bring her whole self to her professional practice

Resources mentioned:

Raelene Dundon — neuro-affirming practice framework: raelenedundon.com

Sonny Jane Moore, the Lived Experience Educator: livedexperienceeducator.com

Playroom Therapy (Melbourne): playroomtherapy.com.au

Meg Ellard — Wattle Play Therapy: wattleplaytherapy.com

Meg Ellard on LinkedIn: search Meg Ellard, Playroom Therapy

About Meg Ellard

Meg Ellard is a Senior Play Therapist and Clinical Lead at Playroom Therapy in Melbourne, and a newly elected APPTA Board Member. A neurodivergent practitioner with a background in early childhood education, Meg brings lived experience and clinical depth to her work with neurodivergent children, families, and educators. Her research has been published in the British Journal of Play Therapy (2021) and in the Routledge volume Nature-Based Play and Expressive Therapies (2022).

About Dr Kate Renshaw (Dr Play)

Dr Kate Renshaw (PhD, RPT-S™) is a play therapist, researcher, educator, author, and advocate with over 20 years of experience working therapeutically with children and families. She is the developer of TORA and the Multi-Tiered Play Therapy (MTPT) Framework, and Founding Director of Play & Filial Therapy. Based in Ballarat, Victoria, on Wadawurrung Country.

🌐 drplay.com.au 💼 linkedin.com/in/drkaterenshaw

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Mary Jenner, is a nurse, healthcare innovator, and founder of The Butterfly Pig, a company dedicated to transforming children’s healthcare experiences through play-based education and trauma-informed tools. Her educational tools are used by over 150 hospitals worldwide, and by tens of thousands of families. She is also the host of the Care Rewritten podcast, deepening her mission to end preventable medical trauma in children — not by asking overstretched clinicians to do more, but by redesigning the systems around them. 

In this episode, Dr Kate Renshaw sits down with Mary Jenner, paediatric nurse and founder of The Butterfly Pig, to explore the full spectrum of medical play — from everyday child-led play at home through to specialist therapeutic intervention.

Mary shares the story behind Butterfly Pig: how years working in paediatric oncology showed her that children cope better with medical procedures when play is part of the picture. She discovered that demonstrating procedures on a child's teddy bear before doing them on the child made a world of difference to their understanding and cooperation. That observation eventually became a company, a mission, and a movement.

In this episode Dr Kate and Mary explore:

•       The continuum from everyday medical play to therapeutic medical play, and why the difference matters for families, funders, and healthcare systems

•       The multi-tier model of support: parent, nurse, child life specialist, and play therapist — and how each role is distinct and irreplaceable

•       How children shift from experiencing procedures as something happening to them to becoming engaged participants when they can parallel process through play with their own patients

•       What post-traumatic play looks like, how it differs from healthy processing play, and what families and nurses might watch for

•       CORA (Contextualised Optimal Relationship Approach) — how any professional working with children can build relational, playful skills without a therapy qualification. AUS listeners: Contact Dr Kate Renshaw to explore CORA training for your organisation/staff team (TORA Certified Facilitators (who are highly trained to deliver CORA training) are available in every state and territory. NZ listeners: Dr Kate is presenting CORA across 4 dates and cities in September 2026 — register here via Compass Seminars NZ

Both Dr Kate and Mary had a copy of Integrating Therapeutic Play Into Nursing and Allied Health Practice in hand during recording — a fitting symbol of the bridge this conversation builds between nursing, allied health, and therapeutic play.

Guest

•       The Butterfly Pig website: thebutterflypig.com

•       Instagram: @thebutterflypig

•       LinkedIn: Mary Jenner

Dr Kate

•      Connect with Dr Kate's work: drplay.com.au

•       Dr Kate's CORA speaking tour, New Zealand, September 2026 —  Building Thriving Connections: CORA, Christchurch, Friday 18 September 2026  — hosted by Compass Seminars NZ

Book Referenced in This Episode

Parson, J. A., Dean, B. J., & Hadiprodjo, N. A. (Eds.). (2023). Integrating therapeutic play into nursing and allied health practice: A developmentally sensitive approach to communicating with children. Springer. 

Episode Description

What happens when a research analyst with expertise in  paediatric immunology turns their attention to creating developmentally sensitive resources for families? In this conversation, Dr Kate sits down with Monica Jones from My Binkie Bear to explore how rigorous research translates into joyful, practical tools that support children through life's transitions.

Monica shares her unique journey from reviewing academic literature on child development to designing playful resources that invite caregiver involvement. We discuss what makes a resource truly 'evidence-based', why developmental sensitivity matters, and how seemingly simple tools can support complex emotional processes.

This episode challenges the false dichotomy between research rigor and playful accessibility, demonstrating that the evidence consistently points toward relationship-based, developmentally appropriate resources as most effective for supporting children's wellbeing.

Key Topics Covered

The Research Foundation

• What the literature tells us about supporting young children through transitions
• The importance of playful, developmentally sensitive resources that can be scaffolded by caregivers
• How research translates into practical, accessible tools families can actually use

From Evidence to Creation

• Monica's journey from research analyst to resource creator
• The intentional design elements informed by research (sensory components, narrative structure, attachment objects)
• Why co-regulation and caregiver involvement matter developmentally
• The distinction between resources used WITH children versus given TO children

Real-World Impact

• How families have adapted and used My Binkie Bear resources in unexpected ways
• The powerful story of a child using her Binkie Bear during hospital surgery
• Supporting children's agency within secure, loving relationships
• Creating Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs) through everyday transitions

For Parents and Professionals

• Why "doing your best" is genuinely enough
• Remembering that play is children's primary language of communication
• How evidence-based resources support rather than replace parental presence and attunement
• Bridging therapeutic and everyday contexts

Resources Mentioned
My Binkie Bear

• Website: mybinkiebear.com 
• Social Media: @MyBinkieBear
• Connect with Monica Jones on LinkedIn

What if science could demonstrate that authentic connection between parent and child creates literal brain synchronization? In this fascinating conversation, Dr. Kate Renshaw welcomes Dr. Ezgi Kayhan Wagner founder of Mumbi, neuroscientist and clinical psychologist to explore the remarkable intersection of brain science and playful parenting.

Dr. Ezgi reveals groundbreaking insights about what happens in our brains when we sit down to play with our children, why stressed parents struggle to find creative solutions, and how the simplest, most "boring" play might actually be exactly what overwhelmed families need.

From the concept of the brain as a "prediction machine" to the power of tiny surprises in everyday play, this episode transforms how we think about those precious moments of connection with our children, and reminds us that taking care of ourselves is actually one of the most important things we can do for our kids.

Key Topics Covered

Brain Science & Connection 

• Brain synchronization during parent-child play
• How modern neuroscience can measure authentic connection
• The role of technology in understanding human relationships

Translating Science to Practice

• The challenge of bridging research and real-life application
• How COVID changed science communication
• Integrating play seamlessly into daily life vs. treating it as another task

The Mumbi Parenting Buddy

• Voice-based AI parenting companion concept
• Personalized, real-time support for parents
• Augmenting (not replacing) human connection and therapy
• Early user feedback and development progress

Stress and the Parent Brain 

• The "Goldilocks zone" of optimal stress for functioning
• How high stress blocks creativity and problem-solving
• Why parents literally "can't see" solutions when overwhelmed
• Impact on play capacity and vision

The Power of "Good Enough" Play

• Repetitive, familiar play as "autopilot" connection
• Brain's preference for tried-and-tested pathways under stress
• Practical examples across different ages (babies to teenagers)

The Brain as Prediction Machine 

• How our brains actively predict outcomes
• "Prediction errors" and novelty effects in play
• The car detour example: small tweaks, big impact
• Why tiny surprises enhance learning and engagement

Emotional Splashback & Joy 

• How playful responses refuel 

Connect with Dr Ezgi Kayhan Wagner's work:

• https://www.mumbi.app/
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/ezgikw/?originalSubdomain=de

Dr Kate Renshaw 'aka' Dr Play in conversation with guest, Rachel Parker on the topic of the relationship between global citizenship and play.

Rachel Parker is the Founder of Global Play Lab and Voice of the Child Foundation Lead at Murdoch Children's Research Institute. Her experience includes:

• 20+ years in educational programming and research
• International work with Lego Foundation, UNICEF, and the Australian Government

Episode Highlights

The Natural Global Citizen

• Children naturally value animal life equally to human life
• Possess inherent ethical qualities and global citizenship perspectives
• Their perspectives elevate adult understanding of interconnectedness

Small World Play

• Miniaturized environments create safe containers for exploration
• Appeals to both children and adults
• Connection to language development and complex learning

Co-Creation vs. Consultation

• Moving beyond adult-designed programs to genuine partnership
• Gallery Victoria's approach: children as event designers
• Sustainability discussions in play-based learning
• Trust in children's capabilities creates empowerment cycles

From Loose Parts to Global Connections

• Abstract play challenges adults but energizes children
• Object substitution play unlocks creativity and innovation
• Different play types serve different developmental functions
• Connecting everyday play to broader global citizenship concepts

Cultural Humility and Playful Acknowledgment

• Play-based approaches for meaningful acknowledgment of country
• Children's wisdom informing authentic adult practices
• Balancing respect and engagement in cultural work

The Voice of the Child Toolkit

• Free resource from Murdoch Children's Research Institute
• Practical guidance for including children's voices
• Age-appropriate methods for consultation, collaboration, co-creation
• Focus groups to assessment approaches honoring children's strengths

Key Takeaways

1. Children are natural global citizens - they inherently understand interconnectedness and value all life forms
2. Play is communication - children's first language provides rich insights for adults willing to listen
3. Small spaces, big learning - contained environments enable complex exploration and development
4. Trust creates capacity - when adults trust children's wisdom, children rise to meet higher expectations
5. Authentic engagement matters - playful approaches can enhance rather than diminish serious cultural and educational work

Upcoming Events

• FREE Webinar: July 22nd - Murdoch Children's Research Institute presenting the Voice of the Child Toolkit. Register online https://mcri.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ykebDxyXSCGdv5f3CyukrA#/registration

Resources Mentioned

• Indigenous X - cultural humility training https://training.indigenousx.com.au/ 

Connect with Rachel Parker

• Website: Global Play Lab https://www.globalplaylab.com/ 
• LinkedIn: Professional conversations welcome
• Email: Available through website contact

About Dr Play Podcast

Hosted by Dr Kate Renshaw, play therapist and child rights advocate, exploring play as a fundamental investment in humankind.

"Play is children's first language - and when we learn to speak it, we unlock profound insights into global citizenship, interconnectedness, and our shared humanity."

What if the most powerful therapeutic tool for children isn't found in any clinic, but right outside your door? In this episode, we explore the fascinating world of nature-based play therapy with insights from groundbreaking Australian research. From bush kindergartens to natural resources integrated into playrooms, discover how therapists are using everything from rock hopping to leaf collaging to help children heal and thrive.

Key Topics Covered:

• The "spectrum of nature immersion": How to incorporate natural elements anywhere, from wilderness therapy to windowsill plants
• Why calculated risks matter: How tree climbing and outdoor challenges build self-regulation and resilience
• Breaking accessibility myths: Why nature-based therapy works for children with diverse needs, including ADHD and Autism
• The science behind outdoor healing: Research on nature's impact on the "20 therapeutic powers" of play
• Practical implementation: Simple ways to bring nature into traditional therapy settings
• Cultural connections: How natural play taps into universal human storytelling traditions

Meet Our Featured Experts:

• Dr. Kate Renshaw: Host, APPTA Registered Play Therapist- Supervisor (RPT-S™) exploring innovative approaches to child mental health
• Meg Ellard: APPTA Registered Play Therapist- Supervisor (RPT-S™), whose work is published in the British Journal of Play Therapy

Quotable Moments:

• "We don't decide what's in that space necessarily, and we're going to come up against unexpected changes based on weather or season" 
• "Because there's no minimum standard to be able to access nature, it was actually easier to make it inclusive for everybody"
• "Something about being outside, and the freedom that it feels to be in that space, is regulating and containing for them"

Takeaways for Parents & Practitioners:

✓ Start small: Add natural objects like shells, crystals, or plants to indoor spaces 

✓ Embrace "eustress" (beneficial stress): Safe challenges in nature build confidence and coping skills 

✓ Look for "magic o'clock" moments: Use natural cues as mindfulness prompts 

✓ Remember accessibility: Nature offers multiple ways to engage for all abilities 

✓ Trust children's instincts: They're naturally good at assessing safe risks

Resources Mentioned:

• Ellard, M., & Parson, J. (2021). Playing in the Field: Scoping the Therapeutic Powers of Play for Nature Play Therapy. British Journal of Play Therapy, 15, pp. 42-64. https://www.bapt.info/   
• Bush kindergarten/forest school movement
• Playroom Therapy, Melbourne https://www.playroomtherapy.com.au/ 
• Wattle Play Therapy https://wattleplaytherapy.com/
• The "20 Therapeutic Powers of Play" https://youtu.be/wuu59E97igU?si=hiOm3iUowox4b5OC 

Join us for a transformative conversation with Dr Kate Renshaw and Jenny Bowers about their groundbreaking collaboration that's reshaping how we support educators. What started as Wednesday afternoon Group Play Therapy sessions in a South Yorkshire school evolved into a powerful advocacy for educational supervision - something therapists have always had, but teachers desperately need.

Discover how creative, play-based approaches can unlock professional insights, why research shows teachers face higher burnout than ambulance workers and police, and how simple tools like sandtray miniatures and Play-Doh are revolutionizing professional support. Jenny shares her journey from deputy head to supervision specialist, while Kate explains the neuroscience behind why play matters for adult professionals, not just children.

If you've ever wondered why education lags behind other helping professions in supporting its workforce, or how creative supervision techniques can combat compassion fatigue, this episode offers both inspiration and practical solutions. Sometimes the most sophisticated answers lie in our most fundamental human capacity to play, connect, and support one another.

Perfect for educators, therapists, school leaders, and anyone interested in innovative approaches to professional wellbeing and supervision.

Dr. Kate Renshaw sits down with Natalie (Nat) Scira from Playroom Therapy to explore the future of play therapy in Australia. Fresh from their collaboration on NDIS advocacy work, they discuss the challenges facing a profession with varying training standards, and the opportunities that have emerged from the uncertainties.

Nat shares her journey from primary school teacher to play therapist, and we both reflect on how the NDIS review sparked crucial advocacy work - including a comprehensive literature review on play therapy's evidence base for children with disabilities. We explore the need for systemic approaches to children's mental health, the unique position of play therapy as a discipline specifically developed for children, and pathways toward greater recognition and funding access.

The conversation highlights how advocacy happens at both policy and daily practice levels, emphasizing children's rights to access developmentally appropriate therapeutic interventions. Despite the challenges, both see this as a pivotal moment that could strengthen play therapy's position in Australia's healthcare landscape.

A candid discussion about professional resilience, community collaboration, and the ongoing fight for children's therapeutic rights.

The host of “Dr Play”, Dr. Kate Renshaw chats with fellow Play Therapist Caz Hynes

Episode highlights:

• Personal Journey: Caz Hynes shares her path from psychology studies to nursing and finally to play therapy, describing it as coming "full circle" to where she always wanted to be professionally.
• Friendship Foundation: Dr. Kate Renshaw and Caz reflect on their decades-long friendship that began in university, where Kate helped Caz discover the importance of play and lightness in life.
• Professional Insights: Caz discusses how her nursing career revealed the profound impact of childhood experiences on adult physical and mental health, motivating her transition to play therapy.
• The "Good Enough" Philosophy: Both therapists explore Donald Winnicott's concept of being "good enough" and how this principle applies to parenting, therapy, and professional development.
• Parenting Revelations: Caz shares her experiences as a "first pancake parent" (which Kate delightfully renames "Picasso pancake"), highlighting how different children require different approaches.
• Trusting Children: A powerful discussion about how children intuitively know what they need, and the importance of respecting their readiness and choices.
• Learning from Children: Caz emphasizes how every child she works with teaches her something new, describing it as "a privilege to bear witness to healing."
• Speaking Kid: The importance of "translating" children's communication to the adults in their lives, which is the foundation of Caz's practice "We Speak Kid."
• The Power of Supervision: How professional supervision creates a supportive environment for therapists to continue growing and developing their skills.
• Breaking Perfectionism: Personal reflections on overcoming perfectionism in both parenting and professional practice.
• Preventative Mental Health: Brief discussion on the importance of early intervention and preventative approaches to mental health.
• The Value of Play: Throughout the conversation, both therapists emphasize how play creates safe spaces for deep therapeutic work to happen naturally.