Not that play is easy. It demands every ounce of a child's energy. But what rewards! Psychiatrist John Bowlby is quoted by Cass: "It develops skills of both body and mind. How to compete, how to take hard knocks, how to win gracefully. Play offers healing for hurts and sadness. It breaks down tension and releases pent-up urges toward self-esteem."

George Sheehan, Going the Distance