Bruno Bettlelheim (The Importance of Play) said it best when he wrote, "If we wish to understand our child, we need to understand his play." Play is a child's work. Children grow developmentally and psychologically via play. Play is an expression of emotions and provides a means of working through and mastering fears, worries, anxieties, etc. When children play, we also get a glimpse into their inner life and begin to understand how they view the world around them.
Have you ever wondered why a child wants to engage in the same fantasy game over and over and over, likely driving his parents crazy? Well, he's working. Watch the child closely and see what you can learn.
