Play isn’t just downtime. It’s how kids try on emotions that aren’t theirs. It’s rehearsal for being human. They’re not just making stuff up, they’re practicing compassion, perspective-taking, and emotional problem-solving... And as you parent them all day? When you name feelings out loud, when you respond with patience instead of pressure, when you simply listen, you’re showing them what empathy looks like in real life. Keep building in time for play. It matters more now than ever before. My new book, But I’m Bored, is full of high impact, low-effort strategies so you can get your kids begging for more time to play. Link in bio or comment BOOK for the link #independentplay #playmatters #butimbored