The importance of play Play is important for a child's development and through play they can learn to make sense of the world. Parents have a vital role in helping their child to grow and learn. Being involved in their play can be a great opportunity to bond with your child and can also be a lot of fun! Active play Encouraging your child to be active will help their body and mind to develop. Some things you could try include playing some lively music to dance, crawl, creep or climb to. Ask your child to move like a snake, a bird, or show you what a slowly melting ice-cream in the sun might look like. You could build an obstacle course inside using chairs, tables, blocks, rugs, boxes, planks and cushions, or beanbags to provide opportunities for climbing, crawling, jumping and balancing. It can be a lot of fun to let your toddler crawl behind you as you lead them around a spontaneous obstacle course. Imaginative play Children have active imaginations and you can encourage this by pitching a tent inside or put blankets or old curtains over tables or pegged to chairs to make a playhouse with boxes and cushions inside for furniture. You might like to invite other children over to play too -- or perhaps organise with a group of friends to take turns to meet together in different houses. Children often enjoy playing in a different environment and it is a great way for them