The Power of Play

While parents may worry that their children will be at a disadvantage if they are not engaging in constant, explicit learning or using the latest "educational" games, child-development expert David Elkind reassures us that unschedule, imaginative play goes a long way toward preparing children for both academic and social success. Through thoughtful analysis and powerful examples, Elkind demonstrates how play is not only essential in fostering healthy mental and social development, it's what sets the stage for learning in the first place.

David Elkind, Ph.D., is Professor Emeritus at Tufts University and the author of a dozen books, including The Hurried Child and All Grown Up and No Place to Go. He lives outside of Boston and on Cape Cod.