ABSTRACT
Play is indeed the child’s work. (Isaacs, 1929)
Observing children at play is a fascinating experience, offering a window into their lives and into the things that are important for them. It is also an informative experience. Through watching children playing, we can learn about childhood. Play is fundamental to childhood, since it is the most natural means by which children develop and learn. It has been suggested that the work-play distinction is unnecessary in childhood, as the epigraph from Susan Isaacs asserts, but the more common belief is that play is for children what work is for adults. Certainly, play can be a challenging, tiring and rewarding occupation for children, as can work for adults.
