Giving children examples and chances to choose among options and possible solutions are ways to help children learn to make decisions. Skills in making decisions will prove valuable in the school years and adulthood. In the early stages, the child simply tries to avoid punishment. Play is a child's work, and learning how to play is essential. Through play, children learn many important social skills while reducing tension and pressure.
Children play for play's sake and focus on discovery.
Adults can guide play, but must allow children to become involved in their play. Frequent interruptions and suggestions by adults are frustrating and discouraging to children, and they inhibit a child's creativity. Using open-ended questions is one technique to guide a child's play without interrupting her or him. Play is a process, not a product. Through play children can master skills, learn to use symbols, increase their language ability, and learn flexible problem solving.