- Children learn through play. Maths, problem solving, new words, getting along with others, and early reading and writing all grow out of it.
- Play is healthy. It keeps children moving and strong.
- Play eases stress. It is joyful, and it gives worry somewhere to go.
- Play is more than it looks. Pretend play, building, and games with rules each teach something different.
- Make time for it. You are your child's biggest supporter. Protecting time to play helps every kind of growth.
- Play and learning go together. Think of play as the hands-on part of the lesson.
- Get outside. Forts, beaches, and games in the street are memories worth making.
- There is plenty to read about it. David Elkind's The Power of Play is a good place to start.
- Trust your playful instincts. Give children time, and watch what they can do.
- Play gives learning a reason. Playing restaurant means writing menus, setting prices and taking orders, which a worksheet cannot match.
From an article by Laurel Bongiorno, PhD, for the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), retold in short.