Join Rebecca Thompson Hitt, MS, MFT, as she talks to Larry Cohen, Ph.D., psychologist and best-selling author of Playful Parenting and The Opposite of Worry about the importance of getting our kids moving and engaging our children in play to avoid power struggles.

In their conversation, they talk specifically about what play is, what it looks like and why it is important for closeness, for reconnection, for recovering from emotional distress and just plain FUN! They also talk about what we as parents and caregivers - who often get caught up in our serious, adult world - can do when we think we don’t have time or space in our lives for play. They talk about how you can read cues from your children, so you don’t miss out on invitations to play and ways to approach your child if they are in a phase where they are difficult to engage or absorbed in video games or other technology. They also talk about how to help you help your child move through difficult situations, by engaging them in play, how roughhousing is for everyone – not just kids and puppies! - and how to smooth the transition from playtime to other activities when play time is over (often one of the most difficult parts of play.)

So if you often find yourself engaged in power struggles with your children, if you are looking for new ways to connect with them, or if you just feel that you could use a little bit more playtime in your life, watch the video below for a fun and engaging conversation on these important topics!