Rewind: Independent Play: Practical Strategies for Simplifying Play with Lizzie Assa

No One Told Us

Rachael Shepard-Ohta

Society & Culture, Kids & Family, Parenting

4.9 • 590 Ratings

🗓️ 14 August 2025

⏱️ 43 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Should parents play with their children? Or should children only play independently? Independent Play is such a polarizing topic! That’s why this week, Rachael and Lizzie Assa, founder of the Workspace for Children, talk all about the importance of play for children and how parents can foster the desire for a healthy balance between playing with children and encouraging independent play. Here’s what they discuss inside this helpful episode: the benefits of independent play, starting from birth! HOW to begin fostering independent play skills the latest debate on social media: Should we play with our kids or not!? practical strategies for parents to create a conducive environment for play independent play is not about specific toys or aesthetics, but about understanding and connecting with each child's unique personality and interests the fear and guilt that parents can feel when their children are playing independently how parents can reduce “I’m bored!” pushback and avoid burnout Tips for using independent play to have a “quiet time” once your child stops napping And so much more! Lizzie is the founder of The Workspace for Children, and has become a go-to strategist for parents seeking guidance in fostering independent play for their children. With a Master’s in early childhood education and a passion for simplicity and consistency in play, she offers practical solutions to avoid burnout and promote healthy development. Lizzie's insights have been featured on The Good Inside Podcast, Parent's Magazine, NY Times Parenting, Time, and The Wall Street Journal. She is set to release her forthcoming book, "But I'm Bored!": The Complete Guide to Independent Play for Kids Ages 1-8, which promises to revolutionize the way parents approach their children's playtime. Mentioned in this episode: Lizzie’s Audio Course and Companion Workbook: ⁠https://twfc.kartra.com/page/sales⁠ Lizzie’s Instagram: ⁠@theworkspaceforchildren⁠ Lizzie’s website: ⁠https://www.workspaceforchildren.com/⁠ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate 5⭐️ and write us a review! ⬇️ ✨For sleep support and resources, visit⁠ heysleepybaby.com⁠ and follow⁠ @heysleepybaby⁠ on Instagram! 😴☁️🤎✨ Rachael is a mom of 3, founder of⁠ Hey, Sleepy Baby⁠, and the host of this podcast. ⁠Instagram⁠ |⁠ Tiktok⁠ | ⁠ Website⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey Jack, I'm seeing your business everywhere. Have you got a new marketing person or something?
0:04.8	You could say I've got a new secret weapon for print. Print? Oh, Vista print, right? That's not a secret.
0:10.8	How did you know? Come on. Custom posters, branded mugs, stylish flyers. Only one place prints all that. Vista print.
0:17.7	Yeah, I got business cards, stickers, t-shirts, booklets, signage, even photo books from my last holiday. Print everything for your business with Vista Print. Yeah, I got business cards, stickers, t-shirts, booklets, signage, even photo books
0:21.9	from my last holiday. Print everything for your business with VistaPrint. If you need it, we print
0:27.5	it at vistaprint.co.uk. Welcome back to No One Told Us, the podcast that tells the truth
0:36.3	about parenting and talks about all the stuff you wish you knew before having kids.
0:40.2	I'm your host, Rachel Shepard Ota, and today I'm speaking with Lizzie Asa.
0:44.3	Lizzie is the founder of the workspace for children and has become a go-to strategist for parents seeking outside guidance in fostering independent play for their children.
0:52.9	With a master's in early childhood education
0:55.5	and a passion for simplicity and consistency in play, she offers practical solutions to avoid burnout
1:00.8	and to promote healthy development. Lizzie's insights have been featured on the Good Inside
1:05.6	podcast and in Parents Magazine, New York Times Parenting, Time, and the Wall Street Journal,
1:10.7	and she's set to
1:11.4	release a forthcoming book, but I'm bored, the complete guide to independent play for kids age
1:16.2	one to eight, which promises to revolutionize the way parents approach playtime with their children.
1:21.7	So thank you so much for being here, Lizzie. I was just telling you before we started recording
1:25.7	that you were one of the first, like, parenting
1:28.1	accounts that I ever followed back when I became a mom because I'm an educator as well.
1:32.6	And I just really, like, vibed with your style.
1:35.6	And so it's really fun to be able to talk to you now all these years later.
1:39.1	So thanks so much for joining.
	...

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