Did you ever hear the expression “play is the work of children”? Well the fact is, play is an integral part of the way children learn. Play helps children develop: cognitive skills – like math and problem solving in a pretend grocery store: physical abilities – like balancing blocks and running on the playground: new vocabulary – like the words used in imaginative play: social skills – like playing together in a pretend car wash: literacy skills – like creating a menu for a pretend restaurant (WONDERSPRING, 2024)