Does play feel like one more thing you don’t have time for? This episode will change that. Parenting coach Albiona Rakipi sits down with Dr. Kim Van Dusen — registered play therapist and author of Parenting Through Play — to break down what play actually is, why it reduces defiance and meltdowns, and how even the most non-playful parent can use it starting today. Dr. Kim shares the research behind why play-based parenting leads to better behavior, how to use play during the hardest transitions (bedtime, morning routines, mealtime, and getting out the door), why independent play is critical for children’s mental health, and practical strategies for the exhausted, overwhelmed parent who has nothing left to give. If you’re dealing with power struggles, tantrums, or a child who won’t listen — and you’re tired of it — this conversation is going to give you a completely different place to start.
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 🤎