As I think back to my childhood, I first remember all the times I played outside in my garden. I would pretend to dig up dinosaur bones or create imaginary kingdoms of ancient lands; there I would perform diplomatic services for people in need. I was usually alone and those are some of my fondest memories. When I decided to become a teacher and thought about what is important in my philosophy about how children learn, I immediately knew that I strongly believed in play. Although many decision makers, such as legislators and school district leaders, believe in more academic learning styles, my article will explain why play is so powerful and important for children. The book, Exploring Your Role in Early Childhood Education, defines play as: “any freely chosen, meaningful, active, enjoyable, and open-ended activity. » (p. 140) Play has many positive characteristics such as the freedom to explore and create. Suppose that when a child enters his classroom and is provided with various self-selecting activities, he can engage in something that specifically interests him. The book also states: “Play is active and a natural process of doing something mentally and actively. » (p. 140) When children can mime or explore experiences, they gain hands-on experience and learn by actually doing. Without knowing it, children practice body movements as well as mental processing by playing imaginary games. Engaging activities not only support different learning styles but also bring fun to children, when they feel good about what they are doing, they will want to do it. explore more, and thus the pleasure reinforces the child's desire to continue playing/learning. Open play is... middle of article...... the article states: “Overwhelmingly, these teachers reported that recent policy changes have hindered, not helped, their young students . » Here, the article refers to the overabundance of tests and assessments in the classroom. So is the goal here to foster creativity and individuality or to demolish them with ineffective pedagogy? I trust in children's leaders, teachers, those who work tirelessly to guide children with love and nurture their learning abilities. Let's put an end to childhood depression and school phobia, as the book "Einstein Never Used Flash Cards" says. Allowing children to be children and learn naturally through the areas of childhood development that educators know. End developmentally inappropriate practices and let true beauty shine, the beauty that has great power and strength, the power of play..