Play is a fundamental activity seen in both humans and animals, with evidence of structured games dating back thousands of years. Early games, like the Mancala-like game found on 11,000-year-old limestone, often had ritualistic or divinatory purposes. As civilizations emerged, games like the Royal Game of Ur and Senet were played.
Read MorePlay can help kids learn, plan and even persevere in the face of adversity. As babies become toddlers, their play gets more complex. An alternate hypothesis is that pretend play helps kids develop a skill known as counterfactual reasoning.
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