About the Podcast
& Dr. Emily
About Active Play, Every Day
Active Play, Every Day is more than a podcast. It’s a movement to reclaim active, joyful play in childhood.
Hosted by Dr. Emily Greenwald, a double-boarded pediatrician, mom of three, and childhood wellness advocate, the show explores how daily movement shapes kids’ bodies, brains, emotional regulation, confidence, and resilience.
Each episode blends science-backed insight with deep respect for real family life. The messy days. The busy schedules. The small wins that actually add up. There is no guilt, no perfection, and no pressure. Just practical ideas families can use, even on their busiest days.
You’ll hear conversations with leading voices in pediatrics, psychology, physical therapy, occupational therapy, education, and play research, alongside real parents navigating the same challenges you are.
We unpack the topics that matter most right now, including:
Active play ideas that actually work at home and school
Risky play and confidence building
Neurodiversity, attention, and regulation
Sleep, behavior, and emotional development
Screen-time balance without shame
School stress, sports burnout, and motivation
Building healthy habits in busy families
Our goal is simple. Help every family find a realistic path toward 60 minutes of active play every day. Not perfect days. Real ones.
Because play isn’t extra, it’s essential.
Our Partnership with Nex Playground
Nex Playground supports Active Play, Every Day, because we share a belief that movement is foundational to children’s physical, emotional, and cognitive health. Our partnership allows us to reach more families with evidence-based guidance, real-life tools, and joyful play ideas, without compromising editorial integrity.
About Dr. Emily
My goal is to support parents in raising children who are not just “screen-balanced,” but life-balanced—children who are awake to their bodies, connected to their emotions, and deeply engaged with the world around them.
Screens aren’t inherently harmful — but when they displace the physical activity and social interaction that children so desperately need, they contribute to a cycle of disengagement and disconnection.
As a pediatrician and mother of three young children, I bring both clinical expertise and day-to-day parenting insight to my work. I’m double board-certified in General Pediatrics and Pediatric Emergency Medicine, and at the heart of my work is a deep commitment to child wellness — not just in moments of illness, but across the entire arc of development and lifelong health.
Too much idle time — especially when it isn’t developmentally enriching—has become one of the most overlooked challenges in child health. I’m proud to support tools and innovations that rethink screen engagement and daily routines in ways that get kids moving, connecting, and feeling good in their bodies — all while having fun. This is why I’ve created Active Play Every Day to help families, schools, and communities rethink what healthy childhoods look like — one joyful minute of movement at a time.
