In favor of play

It might seem like the hours children spend playing are wasted hours, that maybe they could be learning things instead. Think again! Play is actually how children learn. And for a young child, hands-on, first person experiences are the only way they can learn, because words alone do not have that much meaning for them. Come to think of it, I'm an adult, and I still learn best by getting involved in a project and doing things myself.

In spite of mounting evidence that play is critical for children's intellectual development, kids today spend less time playing than they did twenty years ago, according to a 2004 study. Local school systems have been forced to compromise between playtime and study time, while at home, children are spending more time watching TV and playing video games. But there are ways to foster parent-child interaction, empower children's natural problem solving abilities and bring the focus of childhood back to playtime--the time experts say is critical for children's growth. Children's museums all over the country are doing just that. Why play is so important