Play is also a time for building self-esteem. You can do this simply by allowing yourself to follow your child's lead. Don't criticize. Don't correct. Your child is the play expert. Just be there and participate.

Playing is a natural way to help children learn. Benefits to play include:

• Heads off future discipline problems
• Develops a sense of confidence
• A natural way to help children learn
• Forms a positive relationship between children and parents
• Provides an outlet for pent up energy
• Helps children work out feelings
• Helps to develop concentration skills
• Builds coordination
• Teaches a variety of skills
• Helps children to be creative
• Teaches children to get along with others
• Keeps children out of trouble by giving them something to do

By encouraging play, parents can give children one of the most valuable gifts. Play helps children understand the world, encourages risk-taking, helps to form positive personality traits (cooperating, sharing, fair play, dependability, organization, resourcefulness, etc.), helps to express thoughts and feelings, encourages problem solving, and so much more.

Although all toys encourage expression in children, some are better for sparking healthy interaction and conversation in children. Take inventory of your child’s toys. Making sure his or her collection includes the following toys will be worth the effort:

• Dishes
• Blocks
• Dolls and dollhouses
• Puppets
• Wagons
• Telephones
• Colored cubes
• Balls
• Crayons
• Clay or play dough

Excerpts of this article courtesy of www.parenting.org, a service of Girls and Boys Town