368 | CCPT Gamechangers: The Hidden Problem with Battery-Operated Toys

Jan 20, 2026

In this episode of the CCPT Game Changers series, I take a close look at battery-operated toys in the playroom and why they require much more intentional consideration than we often give them. I explain how toys are selected—not collected—and why simplicity, creativity, and non-prescriptive design are essential for preserving true child-centeredness. Many battery-driven toys introduce noise, music, scripts, or actions that interrupt the child’s flow and subtly direct the play in ways that interfere with the therapeutic process.

I walk through how to evaluate whether batteries actually serve a meaningful, real-world function or whether they distract from the child’s needs. Using concrete examples, I explain when batteries may be appropriate (such as emergency vehicles or walkie-talkies) and when they undermine the child’s autonomy and imaginative work. This episode is about refining discernment in the playroom—removing unnecessary distractions, protecting the child’s freedom, and ensuring every toy supports, rather than interrupts, the child’s therapeutic journey.

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Common References:

Cochran, N., Nordling, W., & Cochran, J. (2010). Child-Centered Play Therapy (1st ed.). Wiley.
VanFleet, R., Sywulak, A. E., & Sniscak, C. C. (2010). Child-centered play therapy. Guilford Press.
Landreth, G.L. (2023). Play Therapy: The Art of the Relationship (4th ed.). Routledge.
Landreth, G.L., & Bratton, S.C. (2019). Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT): An Evidence-Based 10-Session Filial Therapy Model (2nd ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315537948
Benedict, Helen. Themes in Play Therapy. Used with permission to Heartland Play Therapy Institute.

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