Hi, I’m Steph. An educator, play therapist and mum of three who believes deeply in the importance of play.

Play is a big part of how we live as a family. There are lots of bouncing balls, board and card games, made-up games, outdoor mud kitchens and cubby building. We love fishing, camping and being involved in team sports. For us, play is part of everyday life — it’s how we have fun, spend time together and connect with our community.

Through my work as an educator, I’ve seen how powerful play can be when it’s used intentionally and fluently within the classroom — and unfortunately, how underutilised it can be. Play creates connection, strengthens relationships and gives children opportunities to build capability, problem-solving skills and confidence. It can also be a powerful tool for teachers to support regulation, create a fun and engaging learning environment, and give children opportunities to navigate frustration and build resilience.

Now, as a play therapist, I’ve come to understand play in a different way. Play is how children express themselves, explore their experiences and process the world around them. It gives us a window into their world and an opportunity to understand what they may not yet have the words to tell us.

But somewhere along the way, I think we’ve started to forget the value of simply letting children play.

Free play is being squeezed out of childhood and not being prioritised as it should be. Not every moment of play needs an adult-designed outcome. Children need time and space to create, imagine, explore, get bored, make mistakes, negotiate and work things out for themselves.

That’s really what Play First is about — making play a priority again.