Playroom Chronicles Podcast
Where parents come to rethink play, and rediscover toy joy by learning to Think Outside The Toy Box® and Play Like It's 1979™.
Episodes
26 episodes
Exercise Toys That Make Fitness More Fun for Kids
If your child would rather sit on the couch with a screen than go outside and move, this episode is for you. In this episode of Playroom Chronicles Podcast, Charlene shares active toys for kids that make movement feel easier to start, more play...
Beyond Fresh Flowers: Mother’s Day Flower Gifts Kids Can Make
Fresh flowers are a classic Mother’s Day gift, but they are not the only option. In this episode of Playroom Chronicles Podcast, Charlene DeLoach shares Mother’s Day flower gifts kids can make using toy flowers, flower craft kits, and hands-on ...
Toys That Make Sibling Play Easier
If you have more than one child, you already know that some toys seem to start the fight almost immediately. One kid takes over, the other gets upset, and the toy that was supposed to help suddenly becomes one more thing to manage. In this epis...
Coloring Activities for Kids That Go Beyond Crayons
If your child loves to color, draw, and make things, National Crayon Day on March 31 is an easy way to make the day feel special without adding more to your plate. In this episode, Charlene shares simple, colorful activity ideas and creative pr...
Better Easter Egg Fillers Parents Won’t Regret
Easter egg hunts are fun until you’re left with candy wrappers, broken trinkets, and a bunch of tiny stuff nobody cares about by lunchtime. In this episode, Charlene shares Easter egg filler ideas that actually fit inside plastic eggs and still...
What The Toy Trends for 2026 Means for Your Kids Playroom (and Your Wallet)
The toy industry just released their biggest toy trends for 2026, and if you’re a parent, you don’t need the industry version. You need the real-life version: what these trends will look like in stores, what they’ll do to your budget, and how t...
When School Vacation Week Feels Long, These Toys Really Help
School vacation week can feel endless — especially in the winter. The routine disappears, screens creep in, and kids start feeling restless. In this episode, Charlene shares five thoughtfully chosen toys that don’t just fill time, but actually ...
Let’s Talk Classroom Valentine Cards With Everyday Toys
Valentine’s Day classroom gifts don’t have to end up broken, forgotten, or stuffed in a junk drawer. If you love pairing toys with classroom Valentines, but hate wasting money on low-quality trinkets? Then this episode is for you. I’m sharing s...
When Holiday Toy Shopping Feels Overwhelming: A Playroom Chronicles Update
Episode DescriptionThe holiday season is here, and with it comes the pressure to buy all the things. In this short update, Charlene shares why the Playroom Chronicles Podcast is taking a temporary pause—and how that pause is maki...
Spooktacular Play: Tricks, Treats & Toys for Halloween
Is your playroom haunted by boredom? This week, Charlene DeLoach reveals why Halloween toys might be the pumpkin spice of playtime. A seasonal trick that resets routines, sparks creativity, and keeps kids engaged without adding clutter...
6 Toys That Boost Learning Without Feeling Like School
The Play Power of Off Label LearningIn this episode of the Playroom Chronicles podcast, Charlene DeLoach discusses the importance of distinguishing between educational toys and toys that can be used for educational purposes throug...
The Surprising Place I Always Find Amazing Toys
Forget overpriced plastic junk and clutter-causing impulse buys. In this episode, I’m revealing one of my favorite secret sources for high-quality, imagination-boosting toys: estate sales.I’ll walk you through why these hidden-in-plain-s...
Screen-Time Zombies to School-Ready Stars
Forget the worksheets and screen time battles! In this episode, I reveal 5 popular toys that secretly build the exact skills your child's teacher will thank you for come September.From fine motor development to critical thinking, these s...
How to Turn Summer Toys Into Fall Favorites
Wondering what to do with summer toys after summer ends? Don't pack away those summer toys just yet! In this episode, I reveal how to transform your pool noodles, beach balls, water tables, and kiddie pools into engaging fall activities that ke...
No Toys? No Problem. Simple Ways to Spark Creative Play Anywhere
Think your kids need toys to play? Think again. In this episode of The Playroom Chronicles, I share a refreshing reminder from my own childhood—when a stick, a hoop, and a cup were all it took to spark hours of joy. Discover w...
The Only 10 Toys Your Child Will Ever Need (Part 2)
Discover the final 5 toys that grow with your child from ages 2-12 in this must-listen episode for parents seeking smart toy investments. Toy expert and mom Charlene reveals surprising ways to use puzzles, puppets, board games, magnet tiles, an...
The Only 10 Toys Your Child Will Ever Need (Part 1)
Tired of toys that collect dust after a few months? Discover the revolutionary "toy capsule" concept - a carefully curated collection of versatile playthings that truly grow with your child from infancy through the tween years.Just like...
Stylish Toy Organization: Where Chic Design Meets Children's Play
Ever found yourself stepping on a LEGO at midnight while wondering why your beautifully decorated home has been overtaken by plastic toys? You're not alone in this daily battle between adult aesthetics and childhood necessities.Toy stor...
The Secret Formula To Picking The Right Toys For Your Kids
Have you ever wondered why your child stands in a room full of toys and still claims they're bored? After two decades reviewing hundreds of toys and speaking with thousands of parents, I've discovered the answer, and it's not what most parents ...
Why Toy Rotation Doesn't Work (And What to Do Instead)
Have you ever considered that toy rotation might be working against your child's play development? Just as you'd feel frustrated waking up to find your coffee maker mysteriously replaced with a tea kettle, children often experience similar disr...
The Play Secret Every Busy Parent Needs to Hear
Ready to transform your playtime with your kids without adding a single minute to your day? This game-changing episode introduces the revolutionary concept of the "play burst" – a productivity-inspired approach to parent-child connection that p...
Stop Telling Your Kids to "Go Play"
Ever notice how your child stares blankly when you say "go play"? You're not alone. That simple phrase—one we all use daily—might actually be setting our kids up for failure rather than fun.Through my work with both neurodiverse and neu...
Supermarket Secrets To Get Kids Playing
Ever felt frustrated when your kids ignore their mountain of toys only to claim they're bored? The solution might be simpler than you think—and surprisingly, it's inspired by your weekly grocery store trip.In this eye-opening episode, w...
Play Like It's 1979™
Remember those childhood days of building forts from whatever you could find, creating entire worlds with just a few toys, and staying outside until someone called you in for dinner? That magical, unscripted play didn't just fill time—it built ...
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Think Outside The Toy Box®
Standing in a sea of toys while your child complains of boredom might be one of modern parenting's greatest ironies. If you've ever wondered why expensive toys sit forgotten while your child gravitates toward screens, this episode reveals the s...
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