This recent story about play from NPR is exactly the sort of report that gives me hives. As it turns out, all of those hours kids used to spend pretending to be princesses or pirates were more helpful in their development than it appeared.

Imaginative play -- rather than structured, lesson-based play or brand-name-toy-based play -- develops a kid's "executive function." And that executive function is exactly what a kid needs to control his or her impulses and focus long enough to learn.

Which is a long way to say that kids' games that require no equipment like Simon Says are better in the long term than buying anything at the store. Playing pretend (without themed costumes or props) might just be the best activity of all.

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