Structured Doll Play: Supporting Kids Through Transitions

Ever wonder why kids melt down before a field trip, panic over substitute teachers, or struggle with simple routine changes? 🧸👇

Transitions are hard—for kids, parents, teachers, and therapists alike. But there is a proven tool that bridges the gap between fear and feeling safe: Structured Doll Play.

In this episode of Playful Beginnings, Dr. Kristie and Maggie break down this powerful intervention from the Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT) Manual (Landreth & Bratton, 2006).

Inside this episode, you’ll learn:

• What structured doll play actually is (and why it works so well for anxious kids).
• How play therapists can guide parents to use this technique effectively at home.
• Practical strategies for parents and teachers to prepare kids for big changes, field trips, and new environments.

Whether you're in the clinic, the classroom, or at the kitchen table, this episode gives you actionable tools you can use immediately.