Published by Countryman Press, an imprint of W.W. Norton
In Parenting Through Play, Dr. Van Dusen offers practical guidance and a wealth of strategies to simplify what should be the most natural approach to raising balanced, happy children: PLAY. Grounded in research, she illustrates how reconnecting with our own sense of childlike playfulness can be one of the most powerful ways to build deeper connections with our children, leading to outcomes that are both meaningful and mutually rewarding. By weaving fun, imagination, creativity, and laughter into everyday parenting, Dr. Van Dusen reminds us that play may be the true secret sauce to raising remarkable humans.
Sharon Price John, Playful Mother of Three, President & CEO at Build-A-Bear Workshop, Chair of the Toy AssociationWhat a much-needed book you have given birth to, Dr. Kim! It is truly going to change so many lives! CONGRATULATIONS on bringing something truly innovative into the world!Discipline doesn’t have to be exhausting—and parenting doesn’t have to feel like a power struggle. In Parenting Through Play, Dr. Kim Van Dusen flips traditional behavior management on its head, using play, positive reinforcement, and solution-focused tools that actually work. If you’re ready to ditch punishment and connect in a way kids truly understand, it’s time to play.Melissa Bernstein, Co-founder, Melissa & Doug Toys, Co-founder, Lifelines, Mom of 6
“Play is the essence of parenting,” argues family therapist Van Dusen in this innovative debut guide to helping parents connect with their kids. She explains that playtime activities, such as role-play and storytelling, help children express their emotions and make sense of their world, and offer parents insight into their children, enabling more effective communication. She points to play as a powerful tool for emotional self-regulation and suggests playful solutions for managing meltdowns and tantrums. Filled with creative suggestions and real-life examples, this is a boon for parents hoping to better communicate with their children.
Publishers Weekly
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Available May 5, 2026
From an expert in a Play-It-Out parenting style, Dr. Kim delivers an innovative and groundbreaking guide to building positive, nurturing parent-child relationships through the power of play.
For nearly 20 years, Dr. Kim Van Dusen has provided parents with practical, effective ways to transform their parent-child communication, modify their child’s behavior, and foster a supportive family environment. Now, in this pioneering guide, the licensed family therapist, registered play therapist, creator of The Parentologist, and mom of two shares her positive and playful solution-focused strategies designed to meet children where they are and speak in a language they can understand: the universal language of play.
Parenting Through Play delivers clear how-to prompts, step-by-step instructions, and creative, engaging strategies to address everyday behavioral challenges and encourage positive habits that will cultivate a more peaceful home. Dr. Kim’s unique, positive, pragmatic approach and research-backed play therapy techniques offer a dynamic framework to empower parents, strengthen communication, reinforce healthy boundaries, create a deeper connection, and bolster children’s social skills, emotional regulation, and overall well-being. Blending expert guidance with warmth and practicality drawn from Dr. Kim’s own experiences, Parenting Through Play offers every family a fun, proactive, and evidence-based path to thriving together.
