The best way for parents to teach their child is to play with them. Because indoor and outdoor play is an opportunity for a child to explore their new world, it is very important for their growth. In order to help their children develop cognitive, social and psychological skills, parents must actively participate in their child's playtime. The first step parents must take is to give the child enough space to play. Sufficient play space will make room for paths, ramps, bridges, hills, etc. (Strickland par. 3). Because the child will have more space to move, their body will engage in actions, which is important for them to learn how their mind cooperates with their body. Provide him with tools like plastic shovels, buckets of sand, or wooden blocks to encourage him to build whatever he wants. Objects such as sand, water, blocks and building crates are movable. Since they are mobile, they are also modifiable; he can calculate in his head what should go where (Strickland par. 1). Balancing, lifting, and carrying will help him develop his cognitive skills because he will use his mind to complete his project exactly as he imagines it (Strickland par. 2). The movements and strategies that accompany outdoor projects will improve his motor coordination and hone his timing skills (Muller par. 38). Dr. Katheleen Alfano, director of research at Fisher Price, states that "a lot of research has been done recently on the connection between play, movement, and intellectual development" (Muller par. 37). Of course, the role of parents in this activity is to monitor their child's play, but not to hover or intervene. Parents may feel pressure to correct the child's construction method, but it is vital that the child...... middle of paper ......k. There is no time commitment and the child still enjoys the play time (Bush par. 4). There are many things to do outside to help define a child's character: reading outside (Bush par. 8), looking at the sky (Bush par. 9), listening to the cries of animals (Bush par. . 10), watch the many insects, and much more. When a child sees a quirky insect, their reaction reflects their character and personality. It also helps him explore his feelings (Bush par. 7). Allowing aggressive play and scheduling time to explore the world together are ways that parents can actively participate in their child's play time. The famous author, Dr. Seuss, believes that “adults are obsolete children.” However, parents must sometimes put aside adulthood and actively participate in their child's playtime in order to help them develop their cognitive, social and psychological skills...