The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1886-01-07
THREE WAYS.
How to Deal With Children and Children's
TOYS,

how TO O6hl WIN Cnl1Oreu anu Ou1OI6u'0
Toys.
Among the mothers of my acquain-
lance, I have observed three different
methods of dealing with children and
shildren's toys. The first way is the
least common; in fact I have thus far
come across only M mother who has
adopted it. She is a nervous, energetic
woman, of the type often called "very
nice housekeepers." Her husband has
only a moderate income and her house
is small. She has neither nurse-maid
o nursery, and does not allow her
children to have any toys. At first I
was at a loss to understand this vigor-
Gus rule; but I found that the mother
could not endure the confusion and dis
order caused by having p~laythings
about, that the children were never
willing to take proper care of them,
and that toys were only a source of
trouble. As I watched them, uneasy.
l~istless, not knowing what to do, and
consequently getting into constant
difficulties, I thought children could
| hardly be more troublesome. They re-
quired watching every minute, and the
mothers life vas given up to this oc.
| cupation till I did not wonder that she
lost her health.
The second method is the common
one. 1t is to give children toys enough
| for a small shop, of all kinds and de-
scriptions, till they are b%ewildered by
having everything supplied them.
| Their imagination, ingenuity and in
ventive genius lie dormant; they tire
If their possessions, which they leave
about carelessly 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 a few at a time; the rest are
safely put away for stormy days, sick
ness OF other emergency. Blocks,
spools, a 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 a
little care the same end may be attained.
I have known a child of four to spend
a morning happily with round-pointed
scissors cutting pictures and poetry
from newspapers, and pinning the pic
lures on a screen. He learned exact.
ness and precision in the cutting, and
his ideas of taste were developed in
arranging the pictures. A child quick
ly learns to distinguish a common
word like the, u and, and feels the
joy of discovery in looking over a 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 a
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, it is some trouble
for a mother to accomplish this; bur
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 a place for theil
toys and other possessions and are re
quired to keep them in it, and if the!
help in all ways they car, the mother!
cares will be greatly lessened, Will,
the children will learn the very impor
tant lesson of depending upon them
neutrality-suspicious..