The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1886-04-02
AMUSEMENTS FOR CHILDREN.

Some ofus ovcrdo this matter, providing,
inventing, and sharing amusemcnts for and
with our children till they learn 10 depend
upon themselves for nothing, whining and
teasing constantly for something to do. .
For tcething, fretful little one, or for
an older child that is ailing and weakly |
am willing to pile blocks by the half-hour
for his lordship to knock over, and drop
beans or tiny tapioca balls one by one
into bottle for him gleefully to shake
since these things may divert his attention
from his swollen gums. But constantly
to sacrifice precious hours that should be
given to work or recreation in amusing
an cxaeting, eapricous healthy child
whose age can be counted by years, not
months, | no longer consider a mothers
duty, and experience has taught me that it
is positive injury to the child, because it
lessons his inclination to draw on his own
resources for employment or amusement
s.lIow did you ever manage to bring up
fourteen children, when the incessant de-
mands of three sometimes seem more
than | have strength or patience to
meet?" | once exclaimed to an old lady
OH Ia answered the old mother, its
no harder bringing up fourteen than
two or three, if you only bring EN- up
right; for the Older ones can take care of
the little ones and help with the work be-
sides. Why, when my Solomon was no
Older than that girl''-pointing to my lit
tie three old lassie-''he helped sight
with the two younger children
sHow could he help ?" | asked, Wine
ing at the insinuation that chat girl"
was of very little help in caring for my
tcn-months-old baby.
"Why bless you, child. he could sit in
the foot of the cradle and rock it by the
hour, and pile mp chips for her to knock
down, and haul her outdoors in pleasant
weather, and
q did not know people had baby-car-
riages in those times, interrupted, will
ing to change the subject; for the old lady
had Just witnessed an unsuccessful attempt
of mine to persuade Birdie to rock the
cradle for Il few moments while | was
otherwise occupied.
Eyes, dear, we had our little homo
made baby -carts-clumsy, cracking affairs.
to be sure, but not easily overturned, and
just as useful as one of these stratldlng.
top heavy things, shining with paint and
valliish, that scare every horse on the
highway. My baby-wagon was made of
an old warped cheese hoop rugged on
wooden trucks that
"And you could trust a thrcc-year old
child to draw your baby about and have
some care of it = again interrupted my
visitor.
'La! yes. child. In those days mothers
could put care on their children. But
times are different now; woman seems to
expect nothing of her young Ones but
waits on them and studies up little plays
for them, and is at their beck and call till
they are old enough to be sent to school.
In my day there was nothing said or writ
ten about 'amusements for children
Folks had too much work in hand to spend
time soaring up new ways to keep the
children occupied, about which such a
hue-and-cry is now raised, and as for the
little ones, they never lacked for occupa-
ton after they were old enough to run
alone, for chips to pick up, or cinnamon
bark to pound, or some little task to do,
which kept their hands from mischief and
made their play all the sweeter when play
time came.
This old mothers words set me to think
ing, Certainly, the restless, active little
hands must be kept employed. Let work
suited to their capacity and strength fill
enough moments to keep them from con-
tinually whining about us for new amuse-
ments. Little tasks well done sweeten
play-hours wonderfully. All work and no
play make Jack dull boy, but do know
that all play and no work makes him a
whining, disagreeablc little fellow, as I'M
comfortable as he is unoccupied
Do seem unkind or unmothcrly when |
say that we wait on our children too much,
a real pleasure though it be to do so?
Which is the wiser, kinder way in the end,
to trot unnecessarily for our little people
or teach them to trot for us and wait on
themselves? The chld's best good should
always be kept in view. Patience, self
control, perseverance they must acquire,
if you would have your children be any
help to the world in the future, and |
know of no better way than to teach them
these virtues from their infancy.
Ny little girls first hard lesson in pa
tience and self control came when button
ING her boots one day at two-and-a-half
years old The hook caught in the half
worn button-holes, and, after an angry
twiteh or two to free it, she threw herself
face down, kicking and screaming with
anger She was required to get up imme-
dately, the hook was unclasped for her,
and few kind, encouraging words said,
and the trim little feet We're slowly but
toned into their boots by herself without
further outburst of impatencc. Since that
ace little daughter dresses her feet alone
each morning. and is not only real help
to mamma, but for the time occupies the
uneasy little hands and head.