Parenting through Play
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Parenting through Play
This practical guide shows parents how to build positive, nurturing parent-child relationships through the power of play
For nearly 25 years, Dr Kim Van Dusen–a licensed family therapist, registered play therapist, creator of The Parentologist blog and mother of two–has provided parents with practical, effective ways to transform their parent-child communication by learning to speak in a way children can understand: the universal language of play.
In this pioneering guide, Dr Kim shares her solution-focused strategies designed to meet children where they are and elicit positive behaviours. Covering everything from cooperation to healthy boundaries, Dr Kim offers straightforward how-to prompts, step-by-step instructions and creative ideas for engaging games.
Suggestions include making chores fun by hopping on one foot while taking out the rubbish or pretending the floor is lava to get your little one out of the door quickly. With the perfect balance of expert-level parenting advice and personal experiences, Parenting Through Play is a much-needed toolkit of evidence-based resources, and fun, proactive solutions.
A Paperback Original
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9781682689738
Publisher: WW Norton & Co
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 05 May 2026
Country: United States
Imprint: Countryman Press Inc.
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 18.0mm
Width: 152.0mm
Height: 229.0mm
Weight: 273g
Pages: 256
About the Author
Based in Southern California, Dr. Kim Van Dusen, PsyD, is a licensed marriage and family therapist and registered play therapist. In 2015, Dr. Kim founded The Parentologist, a family and lifestyle blog with a therapeutic twist. Her work has been featured by Yahoo!, Very Well Family, L.A. Parent magazine, and more.
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