"Play is to early childhood as gas is to a car." Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, Ph.D. and Roberta Michnick Golinkoff, Ph.D.

Somewhere in our hectic, frenzied lifestyle, parents have come to believe that "more is more." More sports lessons, more flash cards, and earlier academic programs. We worry our children won't be able to compete in the global workplace. We feel guilty about the lack of time we spend with them. And we are faced with the constant media barrage about "how to raise a smarter/better/more capable child." But after decades of research, scientists and child development experts have come to a clear conclusion: play is the best way for children to learn.

According to child psychologists Hirsh-Pasek and Golinkoff in their enlightening new book "Einstein Never Used Flash Cards," (St. Martin's Press, 2003), our parental panic has created four unhealthy myths:

• Faster is Better. We are so busy trying to balance raising children with our careers and other responsibilities, we are rushing these children through normal childhood activities.

• Making Every Moment Count. Children are very active learners, developing skills at different rates and in different ways than adults. All structure, all the time prohibits play from becoming the vital learning tool it should be.

• Parents Are Omnipotent. At best, parents are guides, accompanying their children through a complex maze.

• Children Are Empty Vessels. Children have an innate curiosity in the world around them. They are hungry to explore, learn, and express themselves. A bored child is merely one who has not learned how to be creative.

Fortunately, Hirsh-Pasek and Golinkoff offer some principles to help parents resist the fear, guilt, and societal pressures:

• The Best Learning is Learning within Reach. To make learning meaningful and authentic, use daily experiences to stretch children's minds and support their cognitive growth.

• Emphasizing Process over Product Creates a Love of Learning. In other words, how a child learns is just as important as what a child learns. Make learning fun! Learning in context and through play will better prepare our children for school.

• It's EQ, Not Just IQ. Emotional intelligence and IQ are both fostered by play. Through make-believe, children learn about the world, its roles, and its rules. They learn to negotiate, deal with their emotions, and adapt to changing environments. Children who play more tend to be happier, and happier children tend to relate to their peers better, and that, in turn, helps them do better in school!

• Learning in Context is Real Learning and Play is the Best Teacher. Play is where you get to practice living but without real-life consequences.

So instead of pushing preschoolers into academically oriented programs, emphasize play instead. Our children's problem solving skills, attention span, social development and creativity will reap the benefit. As creative and independent thinkers in the 21st century, our children will possess the necessary skills to grow into successful, productive adults. Playhouses are ideal for children to expand their imagination and creativity.