“In play the child’s mental concept dominates, and the child moulds available elements of the physical world to meet that concept.” (Gray, 2008)

“They were equal. Enjoying a simple moment of play. They were equally engaged. No one was in control of the play. It happened naturally” (The Importance of PLAY in Adulthood and Childhood | Yolonda Tyler | TEDxBoggyCreek, n.d.)

Play is a means by which children develop their physical, intellectual, emotional, social, and moral capacities. It is a means of creating and preserving friendships. It also provides a state of mind that, in adults as well as children, is uniquely suited for high-level reasoning, insightful problem solving, and all sorts of creative endeavors. (Gray, 2008)

Play is, first and foremost, an expression of freedom. It is what one wants to do as opposed to what one is obliged to do. The joy of play is the ecstatic feeling of liberty. Play is not always accompanied by smiles and laughter, nor are smiles and laughter always signs of play; but play is always accompanied by a feeling of “Yes, this is what I want to do right now.”

The prevalence and variety of play behavior across so many different species suggest that it could have significant evolutionary importance. It's a complex and vital aspect of many animals' lives, contributing to their physical, social, and cognitive development. (News, n.d.)