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Child development experts recognize that multiple different forms of play are beneficial for child development. However, parents may get confused and overwhelmed with all the many terms and definitions used for the different forms of children’s play. This article will give you a basic framework to help you understand some of these different forms of children’s play your child may engage in.

Rough-and-tumble play, sometimes called roughhousing, horseplay, rough play, or play fighting, is a type of social play between two or more participants, where the participants try to gain an advantage over one another, however, they do it without the serious consequences that happen with real fighting.

…Although there certainly are elements of risk for children engaging in risky play, we also need to look at what happens when adults overly restrict risky play for children. Recent research suggests that it is important for children to have opportunities for free play to explore, experiment, take risks, and face challenges, or in other words, to engage in risky play.

Play is a universal, natural, and pleasurable experience. Children in all societies engage in play … However, because play is linked to major characteristics of all cultures … the contemporary view of play is that it is both a universal and culture-specific activity.

Does your child have enough free time or “downtime” to engage in unstructured independent play? These days, parents feel obliged to fill up their children’s lives with enrichment and educational activities. Having a variety of interesting activities to participate in is beneficial for your child, however, too many structured activities can sometimes have unintended or negative consequences. Children need free and unstructured time on their own where they can choose what to do and how to do it.