Sydney and Dr. Kaitlin Wiseman
Co-Founders, Playhouse MD
Founders share how play-based tools and devices, doctor-led education, and storytelling reduce fear, build trust, and empower families in everyday pediatric care.
1. Playhouse MD was created to make children’s healthcare feel less intimidating. What gaps did you see in the system that inspired this approach?
As a family physician and mom of two, I saw firsthand how intimidating traditional healthcare can feel for children. At the same time, Sydney Wiseman, an award-winning toy creator and my sister, understood how powerful play is in shaping a child’s world and together, we built Playhouse MD to bridge that gap.
Childhood is powered by imagination. We have the Tooth Fairy for lost teeth, stories for big feelings, and characters to help children process everyday milestones. Play is everywhere, until the moment a child is sick or needs every day care, and that’s when they need it most.
Most essential pediatric tools and devices are clinically effective, but emotionally cold. They’re designed for adult functionality, not for a child’s comfort. Yet we know a child’s emotional response directly affects how smoothly a healthcare moment goes. Anxiety turns into resistance and resistance turns into stress for everyone.
We believed there was a better way.
Playhouse MD was created to reimagine kids’ healthcare through play, without compromising product efficacy. Our products are doctor-designed and thoughtfully shaped around storytelling, warmth, and engaging children. Everything from the product names, like Jax the Giraffe, to our Playful Prompt Guides that help parents storytell, to the gentle and expressive eyes, each element was designed with kids at the center.
We aren’t here to make healthcare silly, we’re here to use play with purpose. When care feels safe, empowering, and age-appropriate, children feel included instead of intimidated. And that changes everything.
2. From your experience, what are the most common health concerns or misconceptions parents bring to you, and how can families better navigate trustworthy medical information online?
Today’s parents are deeply engaged, which is great but they are also overwhelmed. The volume of information online can blur the line between education and anxiety.
Common concerns we see include:
- Fevers
- Congestion management in infants
- Medication dosing and safety
- When to monitor at home versus when to seek care
- Trauma/physical injuries
One of the biggest misconceptions is that more information equals more clarity. In reality, what families need is quality information from trusted medical sources.
We always encourage parents to:
- Seek information from pediatric associations or licensed medical professionals
- Be cautious of content designed for shock value rather than clarity
- Remember that children’s health deserves calm, respectful language
Confidence grows when education is grounded in expertise and delivered with empathy.
3. How does play-based education help children better understand their health, emotions, and medical experiences?
Children process the world through story and play. It’s how they build emotional literacy.
When we introduce medicine as “fuel to help you” or a nasal aspirator as a helper on a mission, we’re not just reframing a moment, we’re shaping a mindset. We’re teaching children that care isn’t something that happens to them. It’s something they can understand, participate in, and feel empowered by.
That early framing matters.
When healthcare is introduced through fear, restraint, or urgency, children often internalize it as something scary or overwhelming. But when healthcare is paired with play from the very beginning, it becomes familiar. Safe. Even collaborative.
Play-based education:
- Normalizes everyday healthcare moments
- Gives children language for what they’re feeling
- Builds emotional regulation and resilience over time
- Encourages participation instead of resistance
- Creates positive memory pathways around care
And those early experiences compound.
A toddler who feels included during medicine time becomes a preschooler who can name their symptoms. That child becomes a teenager who asks questions at appointments. Eventually, that child becomes an adult who feels agency, not avoidance around their health.
4. Healthcare can be overwhelming for parents. What practical steps can families take to advocate for their children while building confidence and trust with healthcare providers?
First, remember that you are your child’s best advocate.
Practical steps include:
- Prepare questions ahead of appointments
- Ask for clarification if something feels unclear
- Request written instructions
- Track symptoms to provide accurate context
Equally important is building collaborative relationships with providers. The strongest outcomes happen when healthcare feels like a partnership, not a hierarchy.
Confidence doesn’t mean knowing everything. It means feeling supported enough to ask.
5. Looking ahead, how do you see the future of pediatric healthcare evolving, and what role do education, transparency, and parent empowerment play in that shift?
We believe the future of pediatric healthcare will be more emotionally intelligent and truly kid-centered.
Families today are seeking transparency. They want honesty, both from providers and from the tools and devices they bring into their homes. They’re looking for products that balance medical rigor with real-life parenting, and that meet children where they are developmentally, emotionally, and cognitively.
We see a shift toward:
- Doctor-led education delivered in accessible, reassuring language
- Products that prioritize child psychology as much as clinical function
- Brands that speak respectfully and directly to families
- A greater emphasis on prevention and building at-home care confidence
At its core, the future is about empowering parents with trusted tools and clear guidance, while creating healthcare experiences that feel less intimidating and more supportive for kids.
6. Do you have any upcoming initiatives or anything you would like to share?
At Playhouse MD, we’re continuing to evolve into a movement that reshapes how families experience pediatric care, starting at home. We remain focused on expanding our lineup of doctor-designed baby and toddler wellness essentials, powered by The Playhouse Method™. By pairing product efficacy with imaginative storytelling, we help families feel comfortable, confident, and engaged during everyday care moments.
Most recently, we launched our Giraffe 3-in-1 Infrared Thermometer, expanding our ecosystem of products designed to make everyday care moments feel more approachable for kids and more manageable for parents. Like all of our products, it pairs efficacy with imaginative storytelling to help families feel comfortable, confident, and engaged.
Our mission is rooted in the belief that play is the universal language of childhood. When healthcare is introduced through play, it reduces fear, builds trust, and helps children develop a healthier lifelong relationship with care — not just easier sick days.
And our vision extends even further. We are looking to enter practitioner channels and expand our presence beyond the United States so more families can experience care that feels approachable rather than intimidating.
To learn more about PlayhouseMD, please visit playhousemd.com.
