All enjoyed activity may be classified as play.
Play is that which we do when free to do as we like.
Play produces happiness.

Work is the highest form of play. The great artist is playing when his
imagination finds expression on the canvas in color. If he did not love
to paint he would never have become a great artist. The engineer is
playing when he produces the great bridge; the financier when he
masterfully organizes his capital.

The imagination of the child leads him into all kinds of adventure. He
becomes the engineer on the locomotive; he becomes the leader of the
circus band; he is a great hunter of terrible beasts; an Indian, a
cowboy, and a robber. In fact, he tries his hand at all those careers
which interest him, and we call it play, or may even call it nonsense.
In fact, some think play is but nonsense.

Play is the expression, the exercising of the imagination. Should the
child be denied the privilege of play, should its visions never find
expression, should its mental adventures fail to find adequate physical
experience, a great musician, a great engineer, a great statesman, or a
master of some great art may be sacrificed.

Play is not only essential to the child, but, as Joseph Lee says, play
_is_ the child. The natural environment of the child is a play
environment; if we are to lead the child or educate the child we have
first to enter into his environment and into fellowship with him
therein, and adapt our methods to that environment. The processes of
education which have taken to themselves those things which are natural
to children will meet deserved success. The schoolroom, the Sunday