Children use games flexibly to meet social and intellectual needs. For example, choosing sides may affirm friendship and a pecking order. Games provide children with shared activities and goals. They can learn reasoning strategies and skills from strategy games like checkers. In these games, children must consider at the same time both offensive alternatives and the need for defense.
Many card games encourage awareness of mathematics and of the psychology of opponents.
If adults pay attention to and engage in children's play, children get the message that play is valuable. It is important for adults to provide materials which children can explore and adapt in play. When play appears to be stuck or unproductive, offer a new prop, suggest new roles, or provide new experiences, such as a field trip. Even in older children's play, social conflicts often occur when children try to negotiate. Adults should identify play which has led to problems for particular children.