Sagacious wisdom finds much support from more than 80 years of research: play is crucial to the development of creativity, problem solving, critical thinking, anticipatory planning, and even complex brain structures. The benefits of play go well beyond physical fitness. Recent research demonstrates the positive effects interactive play and exercise have on many aspects of children's well-being, including their cognitive abilities. Play is essential for developing a sense of equality, connectedness, and concern for others. Play builds strong family bonds and encourages open expression of feelings. Free play equally benefits all children, without the team pressures, physical preferences, or singling out that comes with other activities. The mutual play that children engage in is the basic state of friendship that sustains people throughout their lives.