It’s child’s play! Quite literally! Early Years Foundation Stage Play is vital for children. . It’s through play that babies and young children learn, grow and have fun. It helps them understand the world and to develop socially and emotionally. Singing songs, reading together, playing games with letters and numbers, and having fun with friends gives them a head start. And that means not just a happy childhood. It also helps their confidence, so they can handle what life brings them.