play.

why do we play?
to learn about patterns. our brains recognise patterns and if we see an emerging shape in behaviour we can predict the next element in the sequence.
so play helps us to predict the future behaviour of systems. a vital tool in being functional in our daily lives.
example. if you pile boxes up in certain ways they will fall over. how do we know this? we have played with boxes since we were little and so have the experience to predict with a fairly high level of certainty how they will act when stacked in different ways in a storage area or a shop floor, etc.
this example is true with a variety of systems including human dynamics. what is also true is that if you limit a child`s access and ability to play they will never develop the fine skillsnecessary to make these determiations. so as carlos santana likes to say, let the children play.