St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1886-02-13
THREE WAYS.
How to Deal With Children and Children's
Toys.

Toys.
Among the mothers of my acquain.
lance, have observed three different
methods of dealing with children and
children's toys. The first way is the
least common; in fact have thus far
come across only one mother who has
adopted it. She is nervous, energetic
woman, of the type often called very
nice housekeepers." Her husband has
only moderate income and her house
is small. She has neither nurse-maid
nor nursery, and does not allow her
children to have any toys. At first l
was at loss to understand this vigor-
Gus rule; but found that the mother
could not endure the confusion and dis
order caused by having playthings
about, that the children were never
willing to take proper care of them.
and that toys were only source OF
trouble. As watched them, uneasy.
listless, not knowing what to do, and
consequently getting into constant
difficulties, thought children could
hardly be more troublesome. They re-
quired watching every minute, and the
mothers life was given up to this oc-
cupation till did not wonder that she
lost her health.
The second method is the common
one. 1t is to give children toys enough
for small shop, of all kinds and de-
scriptions, till they are bewiliered by
having everything SUPPLE them.
Their imagination, ingenuity and in
ventive genius lie dormant; they tire
of their possessions, which they leave
about carelcssly till many are broken
and destroyed.
The third plan is the sensible one
and that adopted by wise mothers. No
matter how many toys their children
may have, they allow them to play
with only few at time; the rest are
safely put away for stormy days. sick
ness or other emergency. Blocks,
spools, little wagon or wheelbarrow,
dolls and other simple things are those
which are kept out for daily use; and
these they arrange, rearrange, change
and combine, and seem always to enjoy.
The reason is that their own faculties
are exercised, and they feel the pride
and Joy of having accomplished some-
thing themselves. For children differ
little from older people, the happiest
ones are those who have the most to do.
The kindergarten system is founded
on this belief and aims to develop
hands and brain, while it amuses and
entertains. But many mothers are so
situated that their children can not at
tend kindergarten schools; yet with Il
little care the same end may be attained.
l have known child of four to spend
a morning happily with round-pointed
scissors cutting pictures and poetry
from newspapers, and pinGing the pic
lures on q screen. He learned exact
ness and precision in the cutting, and
his ideas of taste were developed in
arranging the pictures. A child quick
" learns to distinguish common
word like the, or and, and feels the
JOY of discovery in looking over pa
per and putting a pin through the
word wherever he finds it.
There are numerous similar ways in
which children can be amused, and at
the same time be taught something
useful. A healthy child is naturally
full of activity, and for its happiness
needs only to have this activity rightly
directed. OF course, il is some trouble
for mother to accomplish this; but
children can not be properly brought
up without some trouble, or, at least,
not without thought and care. If the
children are trained to do for them
selves, if they have place for their
toys and other possessions and are re-
quired to keep them in it. and if they
help in all ways they can. the mothers
cares will be greatly lessened. while
the children will learn the very impor-
tant lesson of depending upon them
selves.-Congregationaist.