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Available Jan. 21, 2025
Paperback, Ebook + Audible
Penguin Random House
The Way of Play
Using Little Moments of Big Connection to Raise Calm and Confident Kids
by Tina Payne Bryson and Georgie Wisen-Vincent
Most parents understand that unstructured play time is good for a child's attention span and creativity, but new science has discovered that specific, deliberate, playful interaction with parents is the key to their healthy emotional development and later resilience as well.
As Tina Payne Bryson and expert Georgie Wisen-Vincent explain, this doesn’t mean hours getting on all fours and making toy car sounds; it's the daily, little moments together that can make the most impact. In The Way of Play, they detail the seven playful techniques that harness this caregiving magic and take just a few minutes.
You'll learn how:
- Leaning Into Emotions helps your child let go of anxieties, drama and chaotic behavior
- Tuning Into the Body teaches a child to practice the art of surfing sensory waves
- Storytelling promotes better problem solving
- Thinking Out Loud fosters calmer thinking and stronger communication with you, their siblings, and everyone else
Full of science-backed research, real-life stories, and charming line illustrations, The Way of Play will help parents nurture kids who are calm listeners, cooperative problem solvers, and respectful communicators. Just as important, they’ll help families have more fun together.
About the Authors
Tina Payne Bryson, PhD
Dr. Tina Payne Bryson is the author of
The Bottom Line for Baby and co-author (with Dan Siegel) of two New York Times Best Sellers—
The Whole-Brain Child and
No-Drama Discipline—each of which has been translated into over fifty languages, as well as The Yes Brain and The Power of Showing Up. She has just completed the manuscript for
The Way of Play (Random House 2025), co-authored with Georgie Wisen-Vincent. Tina is also the Founder and Executive Director of The Center for Connection, a multidisciplinary clinical practice in Southern California. She keynotes conferences and conducts workshops for parents, educators, and clinicians all over the world, and she frequently consults with schools, businesses, and other organizations. An LCSW, Tina is a graduate of Baylor University with a Ph.D. from USC. The most important part of her bio, she says, is that she’s a mom to her three boys. You can learn more about Tina at
TinaBryson.com.
Georgie Wisen-Vincent, LMFT, RPT-S
Georgie Wisen-Vincent, LMFT, RPT-S, is a nationally recognized play therapy expert and co-founder, with Tina Payne Bryson, of The Play Strong Institute. A graduate professor and active researcher in childhood play, attachment science, and mental health, Wisen-Vincent has been commissioned as a consultant, program designer, and lead trainer for several major organizations and frequently presents to educators, parents, and clinical professionals on the power of play-driven learning. She completed advanced study in play therapy at the University of Roehampton, London, and gained specialist endorsement in early childhood mental health. Georgie Wisen-Vincent is a child, adolescent, and family psychotherapist in private practice in Los Angeles. You can learn more about Georgie at
GeorgieVincent.com.
