#play

#play

I mean literal play. The kind that is open-ended, imaginative, and unconcerned with outcomes. In my decades as a play designer and educator, I've watched executives, engineers, and designers from companies like Google, Nike, and Lego light up when they are given permission to play again. Not because they suddenly "learned" to be creative-but because they remembered they already are.

Ten is an age unlike any other. Childhood still lingers like a soft melody, yet the whispers of adolescence are beginning to stir. At ten, children live in a magical balance-half dreamer, half discoverer. They are bold, curious, and ready to stretch their wings, but they still find delight in wonder, play, and imagination. The toys we give a 10-year-old are more than gifts. They are tools of growth, bridges of connection, and vessels of joy. A toy at this age is not simply plastic and color-it is a spark that shapes confidence, creativity, and lifelong passions.

The excitement of summer break reveals how vital play is for children's health; it’s not a luxury but essential for their development and well-being.