TPP 426a: Georgie Wisen-Vincent on Unlocking Our Kids’ Emotional Balance and Resilience with The Way of Play

TPP 426a: Georgie Wisen-Vincent on Unlocking Our Kids’ Emotional Balance and Resilience with The Way of Play

Author: Debbie Reber August 28, 2026 Duration: 45:29
Joining me is Georgie Wisen-Vincent, an expert in play therapy and co-author, alongside Dr. Tina Payne Bryson, of the new book The Way of Play: Using Little Moments of Big Connection to Raise Kind and Confident Kids. In today’s episode, Georgie shares insights from The Way of Play and explains why play is a universal language that helps kids express their feelings and navigate life’s challenges. We discuss how parents can intentionally use play to strengthen bonds, nurture sibling relationships, and reconnect after time apart. Georgie also offers practical strategies for engaging in play effectively, such as mirroring your child’s play to deepen connection and understanding. Plus, we explore how play isn’t just for kids—it’s a lifelong skill that can enhance relationships at every stage of life.   Things you'll learn * Why play is a natural language that fosters social-emotional development, allowing children to express their feelings and process difficult experiences * How parents can strengthen connections by intentionally setting aside time for play and becoming active observers rather than controllers * How little moments of play can lead to big connections, helping to nurture sibling relationships and strengthen bonds after time apart * How to engage in play effectively, mirroring our child’s play to enhance connection and understanding * Why play is a lifelong skill that not only supports children’s growth but also enriches adult relationships and communication Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Full-Tilt Parenting: Strategies, Insights, and Connection for Parents Raising Neurodivergent Children is a space for parents who are moving at the speed their kids require. Hosted by Debbie Reber, an author and activist who understands the terrain, this podcast offers more than just advice-it offers a sense of shared experience. Each episode delves into the real-world challenges and joys of raising children with ADHD, autism, learning disabilities, Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), giftedness, or twice-exceptional (2e) profiles. You’ll hear from specialists, educators, and therapists who provide actionable strategies, but the core of the conversation is always connection. Debbie guides discussions that move beyond theory to address the daily realities: managing meltdowns, advocating within school systems, nurturing a child’s unique strengths, and preserving your own well-being in the process. It’s a resource for those moments when standard parenting approaches fall short, offering insights that are both practical and deeply empathetic. Listening to this podcast feels like a conversation with a knowledgeable friend who gets it, one that leaves you with tangible ideas and the reassurance that you’re not navigating this path alone. The focus is on building a supportive framework for your family, one episode at a time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Full-Tilt Parenting: Strategies, Insights, and Connection for Parents Raising Neurodivergent Children
Podcast Episodes
TPP 266a: A Conversation with Poet and Advocate LeDerick Horne [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:28
Performance poet and advocate LeDerick Horne talks about his journey with a hidden disability, his advocacy work, and how he found his love for poetry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
TPP 522: A Whole Child Approach to ADHD with Phil Boucher, M.D. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:51
Today I’m talking with Dr. Phil Boucher, a board-certified pediatrician who’s particularly interested in helping families understand and support kids with ADHD and help parents better understand their child, trust their…
TPP 521: A Conversation with Dr. Peter Gray About Restoring Childhood [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:48
I’m talking with developmental psychologist Dr. Peter Gray about his new book, Restoring Childhood: How to Set Kids Free in the Age of Anxiety, which challenges one of the dominant narratives about the youth mental healt…
TPP 253a: Advocate and Author Jonathan Mooney on Why Normal Sucks [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:45
I’m excited to share this powerful and gut-punching conversation with Jonathan Mooney, a self-described “do-gooder,” speaker, and writer who didn’t learn to read until he was 12-years-old. Growing up with Dyslexia, Jonat…
TPP 519: Brendan Mahan on Overcoming the Wall of Awful [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:16
What if the reason you or your child can’t “just do the thing” is not laziness, but a Wall of Awful built from repeated frustration, shame, anxiety, and failure? Brendan Mahan breaks down the hidden emotional barrier beh…
TPP 518: Good Sleeping for Neurodivergent Kids, with Dr. Melisa Moore [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:12
​Today we’re talking about the complex and often misunderstood sleep challenges that show up in neurodivergent kids with Dr. Melisa Moore, a clinical psychologist who is board-certified in behavioral sleep medicine and h…
TPP 517: James Guttman on Becoming the Father His Autistic Son Needed [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:07
Today I’m talking with James Guttman, author of Hi World, I’m Dad: How Fathers Can Journey to Autism Awareness, Acceptance, and Appreciation. James is the father of a nonspeaking autistic son and a neurotypical daughter,…