In defense of make-believe

Playing hopscotch, tops, and hide-and-seek may seem old-fashioned in a world where children spend so much time watching television, playing video games, and browsing the computer. "In Defense of Pretend Play" proves that these games, set aside for a while in favor of technological fun, can do much more for children than just entertain them. Therapist Susan Linn has discovered that it is possible to help children cope with many of the problems they may face in their lives, from the most complex, such as the death of a relative, to the simple, such as the need to change schools, through puppet games. Based on her experiences, the author defends the need for imaginative play—an increasingly rare activity—and explains why helping children find time for pretend play can make them healthier people. In Defense of Make-Believe presents these and other reasons why parents, educators, and society should encourage play in childhood and promote a playful environment that allows for the development of cognitive and social skills that form adults prepared, emotionally and physically, to deal with life's major setbacks and dilemmas.