Written to explain why children need to play and offering practical guidance on how to best support children¿s development through play, this fully updated third edition includes a wealth of new information to reflect recent changes in the curriculum and early years qualifications. Featuring new chapters on pretend play and the impact of parenting on child development, the book addresses practitioners key concerns through an accessible Q&A, format supported with case studies relating to different play situations. It encourages the reader to challenge their own perceptions about play, exploring why children behave as they do at different stages in their development and showing how play can complement and enhance their social, emotional, perceptual motor and intellectual development.