022 Growing Curiosity: How Gardening Supports Play Schemas & Child Development

What if your toddler’s obsession with mud, watering cans, or hauling carrots isn’t just play—but a window into how they learn best?

In this episode of Demystifying Child’s Play, we take you into the garden—yes, dirt and all—to uncover how vegetable gardening can reveal powerful insights about your child’s development. Whether your little one is digging, transporting soil, or burying seeds, these actions aren’t random. They’re part of play schemas—the natural, repetitive behaviours that show us how young children are making sense of the world.

As a parent, it can feel tricky to know what’s “just play” and what’s meaningful learning.

 This episode helps you connect the dots. We break down what’s happening beneath the surface when your child is knee-deep in garden soil, and how to support their growth without needing fancy toys, Pinterest-perfect setups, or rigid routines.

In this episode you'll discover:

• What Play Schemas are—and why they matter so much in the early years
• How simple garden activities like watering, digging, and harvesting relate to specific schemas like trajectory, transporting, enveloping, and positioning
• Why repetition is not a sign of boredom, but a signal your child is deep in learning
• How to identify and nurture your child’s unique play preferences
• Easy ways to support schema play in everyday garden moments (even with limited space!)
  
  
  

You’ll also get practical tips like:

• How to set up a toddler-friendly garden area (without needing a full backyard)
• What to say (or not say) to encourage schema-rich exploration
• How to gently support your child’s independence without hovering
• Ideas for turning daily gardening into purposeful, brain-building fun

Whether you're a parent with a veggie patch, a few potted herbs, or no garden at all—this episode will shift how you see your child's play. It's about meeting them where they are and celebrating the little moments that are soaked in learning (and sometimes water too!).

You’re not just raising a child—you’re raising a curious learner.
Let this episode inspire you to view everyday messes, garden tasks, and muddy hands as essential parts of their developmental journey. You don’t need to do more—just see more. And that starts with understanding the magic of play schemas.

Listen now and dig into the hidden learning happening in your garden.
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If you’ve ever wished you had a group of parents who just get it — welcome to The Play Schemas Collective. It’s where you can ask questions without judgement, share those little wins only another parent would understand, and dive deeper into your child’s play with people who speak your language. Join us at playschemas.com/collective — we can’t wait to meet you.

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I would love to hear your playtime stories—whether you’re celebrating a win or trying to crack the mystery behind a new behaviour, I’m here for it. Reach out on social media or drop me a message.

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and if you are keen for a freebie... head to playschemas.com/free to see what there is for you!