PLAY is crucial to children's healthy development and happiness and vital for mental health, parents have been told.
A new leaflet produced by the Department of Education said good play experiences helped nurture young people's emotional and mental health.
It offers advice to adults on how to play with their children.
The leaflet said play was a natural part of childhood and through it, children could learn to manage their feelings.
They could also build self-confidence, develop resilience and empathy and understand how to control impulses or frustrations.
"Play allows children to create and explore the world; developing lifelong skills and competencies," the leaflet said.
"From birth through to teenage years, babies and children develop important social and emotional skills through watching, listening, and interacting with you and through their play."
It encouraged parents to interact with babies, toddlers and children throughout the day as "most children love adult company and babies in particular need frequent positive interaction".
"Life often throws challenges our way and it is through talking, listening interacting and playing that children learn to deal with these situations and develop new knowledge and coping skills," it added.
"As parents remember you play a vital role in encouraging children to be healthy. Make time for fun and down time with your children, especially as they get older. Enjoy some time watching, listening and playing with your child. Allow your child to learn from their own mistakes with support."
