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Breaking down boundaries unleashes the full power—and joy—of play. Jaycina Almond, mom to Syx and founder of Tender, a nonprofit that provides support to single mothers, shares three insights on the importance of unstructured play. Last updated: August 23, 2022 3 min read  1. __Playtime is perfect for bonding.__ Jaycina’s earliest memories of play are the hours spent bonding with her sister while playing with dolls. Today, playing with Syx builds and strengthens their relationship and provides a break from the hustle of daily life. “When we play, I learn the most about her—how her mind works and what she’s interested in and curious about. I get to meet her over and over again.” 2. __Play lets kids’ imaginations run wild.__ Solo or with a friend, play empowers kids to get creative. “It’s cool to see my daughter immerse herself in a world that she created,” Jaycina says. Imaginative play also encourages Syx, an only child, to develop a sense of independence separate from their shared routines. 3. __Play helps kids grow and learn.__ There’s more to play than just having fun—it can impact physical, cognitive, social, and emotional growth. “Play is the way kids’ brains make connections,” Jaycina says. She encourages a hands-off approach to play: sit back and let them take the reins.  ## “When we let kids figure things out themselves, they have a roadmap that opens them up to even more learning.” __Jaycina Almond__, Mom to Syx and Founder of Tender For more expert advice on Play, Sport, and Wellness, explore our Parent's Guides to Back to School. [Discover](https://www.nike.com/a/parents-guide-to-back-to-school) Originally published: August 23, 2022 ## Related Stories -  [](https://www.nike.com/a/parents-guide-to-back-to-school) # A Parent’s Guide # Supporting Your Kids for Back-to-School -  [](https://www.nike.com/a/how-to-support-your-kids-from-the-sidelines) # A Parent’s Guide to Sport # The Best Ways to Cheer from the Sidelines -  [](https://www.nike.com/a/tips-for-talking-with-your-kids) # A Parent’s Guide to Wellness # Tips for Talking with Your Kids -  [](https://www.nike.com/a/how-to-play-to-the-fullest) # A Parent’s Guide to Play # How to Make Fun Time Meaningful -  [](https://www.nike.com/a/life-lessons-to-be-learned-from-sport) # A Parent’s Guide to Sport # What Kids Can Learn from Competition Resources [Gift Cards](https://www.nike.com/gift-cards) [Corporate Sales](https://www.nike.com/corporate-sales) [Find a Store](https://www.nike.com/retail) [Membership](https://www.nike.com/membership) [Nike Journal](https://www.nike.com/stories) [Site Feedback](https://www.nike.com#site-feedback) Help [Get Help](https://www.nike.com/help) [Order Status](https://www.nike.com/orders/details/) [Shipping and Delivery](https://www.nike.com/help/a/shipping-delivery) [Returns](https://www.nike.com/help/a/returns-policy) [Order Cancellation](https://www.nike.com/help/a/change-cancel-order) [Payment Options](https://www.nike.com/help/a/payment-options) [Gift Card Balance](https://www.nike.com/orders/gift-card-lookup) [Contact Us](https://www.nike.com/help/#contact) Company [About Nike](https://about.nike.com/en) [News](http://news.nike.com/) [Careers](https://jobs.nike.com/) [Investors](http://investors.nike.com/) [Purpose](https://purpose.nike.com/) [Sustainability](https://www.nike.com/sustainability) [Accessibility](https://www.nike.com/us/en/accessibility/#introduction) Promotions & Discounts [Student](https://www.nike.com/help/a/student-discount) [Military](https://www.nike.com/help/a/military-discount) [Teacher](https://www.nike.com/help/a/teacher-discount) [First Responders & Medical Professionals](https://www.nike.com/help/a/first-responder-discount) [Birthday](https://www.nike.com/help/a/birthday-terms-promo) [Resources](https://www.nike.com/help) [Gift Cards](https://www.nike.com/gift-cards) [Corporate Sales](https://www.nike.com/corporate-sales) [Find a Store](https://www.nike.com/retail) [Membership](https://www.nike.com/membership) [Nike Journal](https://www.nike.com/stories) [Site Feedback](https://www.nike.com#site-feedback) [Help](https://www.nike.com/help) [Get Help](https://www.nike.com/help) [Order Status](https://www.nike.com/orders/details/) [Shipping and Delivery](https://www.nike.com/help/a/shipping-delivery) [Returns](https://www.nike.com/help/a/returns-policy) [Order Cancellation](https://www.nike.com/help/a/change-cancel-order) [Payment Options](https://www.nike.com/help/a/payment-options) [Gift Card Balance](https://www.nike.com/orders/gift-card-lookup) [Contact Us](https://www.nike.com/help/#contact) [Company](https://about.nike.com/en) [About Nike](https://about.nike.com/en) [News](http://news.nike.com/) [Careers](https://jobs.nike.com/) [Investors](http://investors.nike.com/) [Purpose](https://purpose.nike.com/) [Sustainability](https://www.nike.com/sustainability) [Accessibility](https://www.nike.com/us/en/accessibility/#introduction) [Promotions & Discounts](https://www.nike.com/promo-code) [Student](https://www.nike.com/help/a/student-discount) [Military](https://www.nike.com/help/a/military-discount) [Teacher](https://www.nike.com/help/a/teacher-discount) [First Responders & Medical Professionals](https://www.nike.com/help/a/first-responder-discount) [Birthday](https://www.nike.com/help/a/birthday-terms-promo) United States - © 2026 Nike, Inc. 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