Play is the word of childhood. It is a child's job to explore the world and figure out how he or she fits into it. This journey of discovery begins when an infant first bats at a string of toys and sees their bright colours, feels (and often tastes) the smooth plastic, and hears the sound of the rattle. As children move into toddlerhood, they become social beings, and as they discover each other, they also discover games.

Although games can be enjoyed throughout a person's life, it is during the toddler to teenage years that they play a crucial role in an individual's development. Children play games to have fun, rarely realizing that all the while they are learning about organization, role playing, strategy, spontaneity, etiquette, patience, problem-solving, concentration, coordination, confidence, creativity, and how to follow rules.

It is every adult's task to make sure that a child's childhood is as rich, stimulating, and joyful as possible. That's not so easy in this technological age, when television and computer programs mesmerize young minds and discourage physical activity. While there is certainly a time and a place for both television and computers in a child's life, it is only through play –both organized and spontaneous – that children's bodies, minds, and spirits can fully develop and thrive.

In these lessons the information on the who, what, and where of the games is flexible, so are the rules of play. As is inevitable with anything that is handed down mainly through verbal folklore, the rules of children's games vary slightly from location to location and from generation to generation. For that reason some variations of the games are included, so teachers can select a version that really enjoy playing. Even if the rules are flexible, it is a good idea for the teacher (or adult) to explain the instructions to the players before the game begins. That gives children a chance to ask questions about “What happens if…?” While explaining the rules, the teacher (adult) should feel free to tailor the games to the needs and desires of a particular group. It is also fine if children use creativity and imagination to invent different versions and rules of their own – as long as these are within the bounds of safety and common sense.

Many experts characterize games as being microcosms of real life: To be successful, one must play within the structure and the rules, but at the same time there is room for enormous physical, mental, and social experimentation and development. Some of the games are competitive, drawing kids into the excitement of winning, but also helping them to accept inevitable defeats. Most important, these games teach children how to have fun together. It is this capacity for pleasant interaction that will serve children well as they move into adult life and begin to differentiate work from play.