030 Play, Not Pressure: How Everyday Play Builds Your Child’s Literacy Foundation with Alex Weehuizen

Worried your toddler isn’t “school ready”?

Feel like you should be doing flashcards, worksheets, or alphabet drills — but it just doesn’t sit right?

This episode is your deep breath and warm reassurance. We’re busting the myth that early literacy needs to look like formal learning and showing you how play, movement, and everyday conversations are actually doing the heavy lifting.

Join host Ruth Vercoe and special guest Alex, from First Five Years — a mum of twins, ECE expert, parenting coach, and holistic sleep consultant — as we unpack what early literacy really looks like for children aged 1 to 5.

Spoiler alert: It’s not about teaching your toddler to read before school. It’s about understanding the powerful role that play, language, movement and connection have in laying the foundation for confident, capable readers later on.

🎙️ In this practical and uplifting episode, we dive into:

• Why early literacy is more than just reading & writing and why it develops slowly, layer by layer
• How repetitive play (hello, play schemas!) supports deep learning and language development
• The overlooked link between crawling, monkey bars, and learning to hold a pencil
• Why you don’t need to spend money on fancy resources — your everyday routines are full of literacy gold
• What serve and return conversations are, and why they might be the most important thing you do today
• How singing silly songs, drawing squiggles, and reading the pictures (not just the words) all build literacy
• Simple ways to use art, storytelling, and play to help your child become a confident communicator
• The number one tip we both swear by (and no, it’s not more screen time or early readers!)

Here’s what you’ll walk away with:
 ✔️ Clear guidance on what literacy really looks like in the early years
 ✔️ Confidence in using everyday moments to support your child’s learning
 ✔️ Encouragement to slow down and embrace the power of play
 ✔️ A deeper understanding of how movement, art, and sound lay the groundwork for school success

Your child is learning every day — not because you’re “teaching” them, but because you’re with them.

Ready to reframe literacy and feel more empowered in your parenting? Tune in now and discover how to turn everyday moments into meaningful opportunities for learning and connection.

Connect with Alex 

Instagram: @f

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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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