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When you think about your own childhood, do you recall times when you and your parents played together? Maybe it was hide-and-seek, or Monopoly or rock-paper-scissors. I remember pretending to be circus performers with my mom and dad, and playing gin rummy with my grandmother.

We used to think of family games like these as inexpensive entertainment or simple ways to pass the time. Now, with competing demands on everyone's time, the excess of toys marketed to kids, and so many electronic diversions, these kinds of activities can seem a bit dated. But they are the stuff memories are made of. They were fun, and they allowed us a chance to feel close to people we love. That's reason enough to play together as a family! But there are also many other benefits of play--and research showing its role in children's development.