The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-05-02
HOME ADJUSTMENTS.
Topics Discussedat Regular Meeting
Of the Mothers Club.
Miss Baker Described Methods In Use at
Normal School The Discussion.

The Mothers club, at its weekly
meeting yesterday, discussed the sub
ject of Home Amusements." more par
ticularly the games and methods OF en-
ployment as conducted i'm the kinder
garten. and were fortunate In having
with them Miss Baker of the State Nor
NAL school. who outlined the course
pursued at that Institution, beginning
with the entrance OF the little ones in
September and continuing through the
year.
Almost all games" said Miss Baker,
"are invented and carried out by chill
dren themselves, and even Froebel
could find no better method than TO
adopt the games of children as lie FOUND
them during his observation in nurser-
les and play grounds. The hrst game
taken up in the kindergarten IS gener-
ally a family game, with mother, IA
ther, sister, brother and baby. This
family resides on one side of the street
and grandma, auntie and several chill
dren on the opposite side. Calls are
made every day and all the little events
i'm the daily life Of the faulty are care
fully treated and the children appre-
ciate the recognition OF the lie when
10 them is the only one.
"All the games of the kindergarten
are played I'm n circle i'm order to create
responsibility and unity. The favorite
games with the children are the bird
nest and pigeon house, and the mouse
game I'm which one child impersonateS
the cat and pursues the unsuspectinS
little mice, who are feastins in an i'm
aginary pantry on invisible cheese. But
pussy is never allowed to catch mouse
but merely chases them away, there
fore no cruel thoughts are suggested TO
the infant minds.
Later i'm the year the trade games
are introduced that the children may
learn the inter-independence OF man
kind Then come the representative
games and those for the training OF the
senses. At times the children are al
lowed TO suggest games Whicn are
founded on acts which attract their at
tention, one OF which. the fireman, as
explained and illustrated y, small
boy. was particularly Interesting.
THE Imagination of the children is
developed very rapidly by the games
which suggest the presence or objects,
such as toys, implements OF labor mu-
steal instruments, etc. Some few. now
ever. seem wholly devoid of the power
OF Imagination and simply can not PLAY
with a toy which is neither visible nor
tangible For instance, one little girl.
when asked why she did not join the
rest in kite flying, replied: Why l
amt got no Kite, seemingly opHVlous
TO the fact that she was as well equip
ped as the others, who were enjoying
themselves I'm fine style.
"Al the games of the kindergarten
are used TO aid in training the charac-
ter and the mind, and the use OF them
in the home life is TO be encouraged"
The usual discussion followed Hiss
Bakers remarks. and the subject or
playing marbles ''for keeps" formed an
interesting feature, as several OF the
members were strongly opposed 10 the
practice, but had so far failed TO i'm
press the enormity OF the sin upon the
devotees of this national game" Miss
Baker very kindly gave her advice in
answering the questions asked, and
made many ntsasing suggestions con-
cerning games for children's parties
and similar forms of entertainment
on Monday next the club Will discuss
, the advisability of training girls for
motherhood, the discussion to be led by
a physician. AS is usual, the meeting
will be open to all.