RePlay is a phygital storytelling toolkit designed for families navigating chronic illness, fatigue and emotional absence. Through wearable tools and a connected digital archive, children observe and capture fragments of experiences an ill parent may not physically be present for, later revisiting and performing these moments together through embodied storytelling, theatrical play and imaginative interaction.

Developed through interviews and co-design conversations with mothers, carers, families and children, the project explores how emotional presence might be sustained through ritual, storytelling and memory-making when physical participation becomes unpredictable. Rather than positioning illness solely through loss or limitation, RePlay reframes care through moments of joy, creativity and adaptation.

Research revealed how chronic illness frequently intersects with cultural expectations surrounding motherhood, emotional availability and caregiving, with many participants describing feelings of guilt, emotional pressure and disconnection within family life. Conversations also highlighted how emotional silence surrounding illness often became more distressing than illness itself, particularly for children.

Rather than focusing solely on crisis or medical intervention, RePlay explores whether small emotionally supportive interactions and shared acts of creativity might help strengthen reassurance, trust and long-term emotional connection during periods of uncertainty and absence. By combining tactile interaction, co-design and storytelling, the project proposes softer and more emotionally sustainable approaches to caregiving and family support.