Dr Amanda Gummer

Dr Amanda Gummer is a research psychologist and leading authority on children’s play, parenting, and child development. She is the founder and CEO of Fundamentally Children, home of Dr Gummer’s Good Play Guide, and serves as the independent chair of the Association of Play Industries. Amanda also holds non-executive and advisory roles across several mission-led organisations, including Families in Focus CIC.

With a PhD in neuropsychology and over two decades of experience working with children and families, Amanda is widely recognised as the UK’s go-to expert on play. Her book Play has been internationally published, and she is a trusted ambassador for the Toy Association’s Genius of Play initiative.

Amanda has developed major accreditation frameworks for the toy industry, including the STEAM and MESH Toy programs, and is the UK Chapter Chair of Women in Toys, a global network supporting women in the toy and entertainment sectors.

She continues to contribute to academic research, present at international conferences, and influence public policy, having shared her Balanced Play Model at the European Parliament in 2019. A regular media contributor, Amanda is dedicated to championing play as a vital component of child development worldwide.