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Welcome to The Playful Child

Childhood Unplugged

Bring Back the Magic of Childhood

Helping you raise children with less screen time, more play, deeper connection, and lasting childhood memories.

Explore our collection of digital guides, eBooks, printables, and practical resources for parents, homeschoolers, educators, and caregivers.

Nurture Play: A Parent Guide to Less Screen Time & More Play

Helping You Raise Curious, Creative, Connected Children Through Screen-Free Play

Inside You’ll Discover How To:
  • Create inviting spaces that inspire independent play
  • Reduce screen time with meaningful play invitations
  • Spark imagination, creativity, and problem-solving
  • Bring more calm and connection into everyday family life
  • Encourage confidence through open-ended play
  • Support healthy child development through joyful experiences
  • Capture precious childhood memories with beautiful keepsake reflection pages
BUY NOW $ 34 USD

Shop Our Guides

Nurture Calm at Bedtime

Download Nurture Calm at Bedtime – 8 practical resources to help children build healthy sleep habits and create calmer bedtime routines.

BUY NOW $ 27 USD

Project Play

Download Project Play by Susan Wright — 7 practical steps to inspire creativity, confidence, and connection through play for children ages 3–8.

BUY NOW $ 19 USD

Everyday Well-Being

Download 7 Steps to Everyday Well-Being – and Compass Cards to nurture mindfulness and emotional well-being in children ages 2–8 in daily life.

BUY NOW $ 27 USD

Shop Our Resources

Math Through Play

Download Math Through Play — 20 open-ended invitations to nurture early math, problem-solving, and mathematical thinking in children ages 3–8. By two certified teachers.

BUY NOW $ 27 USD

Playful Literacy

Download Literacy Through Play — 20 open-ended invitations to nurture early literacy and language development in children ages 2–8. By two certified teachers.

BUY NOW $ 27 USD

Playful Pages

Download Playful Pages — 12 book and play pairings to spark creativity, literacy, and imagination in young children through story-inspired, open-ended activities.

BUY NOW $ 19 USD

Playful Pathways

Download Playful Pathways — 4 Reggio-inspired play invitations for educators and homeschoolers. Art studio, mindfulness, nature, and magnetic tile ideas included.

BUY NOW $ 19 USD

Family Bucket List

Download The Bucket List — 12 months of screen-free play, art, nature, and mindfulness ideas for families with children ages 2 to 8. New seasonal inspiration every month.

BUY NOW $ 19 USD

Heuristic Play

Download Heuristic Play — a parent's guide to open-ended sensory play using everyday objects. Simple heuristic play basket ideas for babies and toddlers from 6 months.

BUY NOW $ 9 USD

Baby Play Essentials

Download Play Essentials for Babies — nurture curiosity, connection, and early learning through screen-free, sensory-rich play throughout the baby's first year and healthy development.

BUY NOW $ 12 USD

Mindfulness for Kids

Download Everyday Well-Being: 12 Monthly Mindfulness Practices – to nurture mindfulness and emotional well-being in children ages 3–8 in daily life and growth journey.

BUY NOW $ 12 USD

Our Collections

Cultivating a nurturing environment for your child takes intentionality. Explore our favourite toys and resources to inspire the child in your life.

Coming Soon

Explore Our Gifted Resources
Curated For You

Childhood Unplugged

A practical guide to simple, open-ended play to nurture creativity, confidence, connection, and learning. Explore the why behind screen-free play, material suggestions and inspirations.

DOWNLOAD MY COPY

Screen-Free Play Ideas

Rooted in our four pathways: Play, Art, Mindfulness, and Nature. These simple screen-free invitations encourage children to imagine, explore, and create in meaningful ways.

DOWNLOAD MY COPY

The Hundred is There

Download the poem by Loris Malaguzzi, translated by Lella Gandini. It’s a keepsake and a gentle reminder of children's capacity, competency, and endless possibility.

DOWNLOAD MY COPY

Play is our brain's favorite way of learning.

Diane Ackerman

Our Digital Resource Fans Speak!

Susan’s passion, aimed at advocating for early childhood, shines right through her exceptional work. Whether you are an educator or parent, you are sure to seek inspiration and benefit from Susan’s holistic approach to giving children the best start to life! If you’re looking to build meaningful relationships with children and empower them to be the best version of themselves, you have come to the right place.
Zaineb
Zaineb
Susan has been an amazing tutor for my daughter, showing incredible engagement and adaptability in her teaching style. She took the time to understand my daughter’s unique learning needs and tailored her approach accordingly. Her ability to inspire and motivate my daughter has truly made a difference in her enthusiasm for learning. We couldn’t be more grateful for her support!
Ashley
Ashley
Susan adopts an active listening role to understand how children feel validated and loved. Her approach allows the child to flow into a new version of themself by providing the space and opportunity needed to authentically explore
Jill
Jill
It is not often that you encounter a kind, professional, and extremely knowledgeable educator that is filled with tremendous love and respect toward children, families, and educators. It is evident that Susan's expertise in all areas of early childhood education, including play, inquiry-based learning, and making children's learning visible, has made her an exemplary knowledgeable leader in Early Childhood Education.
Jill
Jill
What I love most about The Playful Child is that it provides the type of experience that I wish I could set up for my kids at home, but our busy schedules make it difficult. Seeing my children explore new interests and take those discoveries home with them has been an amazing experience.
Lauren
Lauren
I had heard about play-based learning but never knew how much learning could come from it. The girls visited The Playful Child, and it was as if they were given the stage to show what they knew in their own way.
Carolina
Carolina
Susan has been an integral part of our family's life for the past four years, providing invaluable tutoring support to my daughter. Her guidance has been instrumental in helping my daughter overcome the challenges of dyslexia. Susan's expertise, patience, and unwavering encouragement have empowered my daughter with essential coping strategies and reading techniques. Her ability to break down complex concepts into manageable tasks has fostered confidence and a love for learning. I'm forever grateful for Susan's dedication and compassion. She's more than a tutor – she's family. To anyone considering Susan's services, I promise you won't be disappointed. Her impact will be profound, and your child will thrive under her care. Our only regret will be when our sessions eventually come to an end. That will be a bittersweet day, indeed. Wholeheartedly recommended.
Kim & Jason
Kim & Jason
Miss Susan is literally the BEST tutor EVER! She's been helping me with dyslexia for 4 years and I've come so far! She's super cool, patient, and actually makes learning fun (yeah, I know, weird). I don't know what I'd do without her. If you need a tutor, pick Susan! You won't regret it. Only downside: when I have to stop seeing her. That's gonna be a sad day. I love you Miss Susan!
Child, Age 12
Child, Age 12
Thank you for giving my son confidence!
Melanie
Melanie
Susan, as an early childhood educator for over 25 years now, you remind me of my WHY.
Tania Peterson
Tania Peterson
Susan understands the magical truth within a child and the authentic way they show up to learn, ready to co-create without expectations.
Jill Schroeder
Jill Schroeder
Susan works with educators to connect ever-evolving theory into practice with the ultimate goal of improved student success.
Linda Fullerton
Linda Fullerton
Susan, listening to you made my heart and mind full and excited!You put all the pieces together.
Jaime Plaunt
Jaime Plaunt
I love your mentor reflection journals and eBooks. As with everything you do, say, and emulate, they show the importance you place on children and educators.
Tania Peterson
Tania Peterson
Susan is committed to removing the isolation that naturally exists and provides educators with a safe, exhilarating space to collaborate and innovate with their peers.
Shannon Milson
Shannon Milson
I want all children to feel the way Susan makes children feel. Susan truly models exemplary leadership connecting with children.
Jessica Leyland
Jessica Leyland
Susan takes a holistic approach to building not only educational fortitude but she also helps support a confident, healthy child through her educational philosophy.
Jane Butler
Jane Butler
Susan inspired my journey. She presents ideas in a reflective way, offering participants the chance to share and learn from one another.
Dianne Archer
Dianne Archer
Susan’s collaborative leadership style and deep educational knowledge allowsher to find solutions to the most complex educational challenges.
Chantale Miron
Chantale Miron
Susan’s collaborative leadership style and deep educational knowledge allowsher to find solutions to the most complex educational challenges.
Chantale Miron
Chantale Miron
Susan advocates for the rights of children to have authentic, engaging and high quality play experiences. Her work alongside parents and families brings light and joy into the lives of children.
Michelle van Heugten
Michelle van Heugten
Susan provides an unwavering amount of support for educators.As a mentor to me, I could not ask for much more.
Abby McEachern
Abby McEachern

FAQ

The shop offers digital e-books, guides, and printables, including: Nurture Play (play prompts), Project Play, Playful Pages (book+play pairings), Playful Pathways (play and Reggio-inspired invitations), Family Bucket List, Playful Literacy, Math Through Play, Heuristic Play, Baby Play Essentials, and Everyday Well-Being mindfulness resources.

Most resources target children aged 2–8 years, with some products like Heuristic Play and Baby Play Essentials designed for infants from 6 months. Resources are suitable for use by parents, homeschoolers, certified teachers, and early childhood educators.
Yes. All resources in The Playful Child shop are digital downloads — e-books and printable guides you can access immediately after purchase. They are designed for parents, homeschoolers, and educators of children ages birth to 8 years.

Open-ended art activities are creative explorations with no fixed outcome, where children freely choose materials and methods. These activities encourage self-expression, imagination, and emotional development without pressure, aligning with process-based art perspectives and a Reggio Emilia-informed philosophy.

Nurture Play is an e-book by Susan Wright containing 49 play prompts to help children transition away from screens toward meaningful, screen-free play. It covers reducing screen time, increasing creative play, enhancing learning, nurturing creativity, supporting development, and fostering everyday family connections.
Yes. The shop includes resources for both parents, homeschoolers, and educators, including Playful Pathways (Reggio-inspired invitations for home environments and classrooms), Literacy Through Play (literacy-rich play written by two certified teachers), and Math Through Play (numeracy-rich play written by two certified teachers). The community platform also offers parent and homeschool workshops, as well as professional development and pedagogical partnerships for educators.
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