Taking Play Seriously

This was a fantastic, thorough article (11 pages) on the extensive research that has been done regarding play and its importance at all stages of our lives from childhood into adulthood and the detrimental aspects (some vitally important) of being deprived of free, creative play. "Play, in their view, is a central part of neurological growth and development — one important way that children build complex, skilled, responsive, socially adept and cognitively flexible brains." In addition to the role that play has in preventing obesity, there are so many more benefits to this activity and it is one that is inate. New York Times Feb 17, 2008