Do you find that all too often you’re having to bark orders to get things done? What if there was a better, more playful way to get your kids to cooperate? Today, I talk with Dr. Lawrence J. Cohen, psychologist and author of Playful Parenting and The Opposite of Worry, about the importance of play in childhood and how we can tap into our child’s innate desire to play to build connection. *New!* Watch video clips from this episode on the Mindful Mama Youtube channel! If you enjoyed this episode, and it inspired you in some way, I’d love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway. Take a screenshot of you listening on your device, post it to your Instagram stories, and tag me @mindfulmamamentor. Have you left a review yet? All you have to do is go to Apple Podcasts or  Stitcher (or wherever you listen), and thanks for your support of the show! 3 Takeaways: Be honest about your emotions with the volume turned down. After feeling big emotions, share with your child what you did to work through them.  Children need connection and confidence, and they need to know they have a safe home base. Lawrence J. Cohen, PhD is a psychologist and author. His books Playful Parenting and The Opposite of Worry have been translated into 18 languages. He is also the co-author of The Art of Roughhousing, Best Friends Worst Enemies, and Mom They're Teasing Me. Get Hunter's book, Raising Good Humans now! Click here to order and get book bonuses! ABOUT HUNTER CLARKE-FIELDS: Hunter Clarke-Fields is a mindful mama mentor. She coaches smart, thoughtful parents on how to create calm and cooperation in their daily lives. Hunter has over 20 years of experience in mindfulness practices. She has taught thousands worldwide. Be a part of the tribe—we’re over 25 thousand strong! Join the Mindful Parenting membership. Take your learning further! Get my Top 2 Best Tools to Stop Yelling AND the Mindful Parenting Roadmap for FREE at: mindfulmamamentor.com/stopyelling/ Find more podcasts, blog posts, free resources, and how to work with Hunter at MindfulMamaMentor.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices