Playing Helps Kids Learn and Grow

Thursday, March 1, 2012 - 00:00 Staff Writer

What would childhood be without time to play? Play, it turns out, is essential to growing up healthy.

Research shows that active, creative play benefits just about every aspect of child development.

Play is behavior that looks as if it has no purpose,” says NIH psychologist Dr. Stephen Suomi. “It looks like fun, but it actually prepares for a complex social world.” Evidence suggests that play can help boost brain function, increase fitness, improve coordination and teach cooperation...

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