Dr Martha Deiros Collado: Why Playing With Your Child Feels So Hard (And How to Make It Easier)

Do you ever sit down to play with your child and, five minutes later, find yourself thinking about the washing, dinner or everything else you could be doing? Zoe does too. In this special episode, created in partnership with Melissa & Doug, Zoe talks to Dr Martha Deiros Collado, a clinical psychologist specialising in parenting and child development, about why play can feel difficult for adults, especially when we’re used to being busy and productive. Dr Martha explains how play helps children process their day and connect with us, and shares simple ways to make it more enjoyable for parents too. You don’t need to invent elaborate games or become your child’s entertainer. Sometimes five or ten minutes together, following their lead, is enough. And if you’re hoping to encourage independent play, Dr Martha has a wonderfully simple idea you can try before they even come home from school. 💡 In this episode, you’ll learn:Why finding play boring sometimes is completely normal How to choose activities you enjoy as well as your child What children may be telling us when they ask us to play A simple way to invite more independent play Why toys that leave room for imagination can be so engaging Watch this episode on YouTube and subscribe. This episode is made in partnership with Melissa & Doug. Discover toys designed to inspire imaginative play at Amazon.co.uk: Melissa & Doug and help your little one find the extraordinary in the ordinary. ✨ Connect with Zoe: Follow Zoe on Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok Get Zoe’s Sunday Times bestselling book, 'Motherkind: A New Way to Thrive in a World of Endless Expectations’ Key Topics Playing with your children • Why parents find play difficult • Parent guilt • The pressure to be productive • Imaginative play • Pretend play • Independent play • Child development • Connection through play • Play after school • Helping children process emotions • Encouraging creativity • Open-ended toys • Following your child’s lead • Making play enjoyable for parents • Quality time with children