Middletown transcript., 1903-07-25
MAKE SUNSHINE

nearly drive me crazy, they are SO noisy"
Doubtless many mothers will voice
this remark, and with good reason, unless
they, like the little busy bee, have pro-
yided for the winter in sunny May.
| All little children are necessarily active;
it is natures way of producing physical
development. 1t seems as though SUR
plus amount of energy is generated in
each growing child which must be ex-
pended in some way. The baby tosses
his limbs about, creeps and crawls, later
on he runs, jumps and "makes SO much
noise" as the mothers say. Happy is
the mother who recognizes that this ac-
tlvlty is necessary to her child's physical
well being, and who is able to change the
noisy riot into happy, wholesome play.
| When it is too stormy and cold for the
children to play out of doors, the mother
is often at her wits end to know what to
do with them. All who have had the
control of children recognize that the
best way to keep them quiet is to keep
them busy. In order to keep them busy
and interested, the mother must provide
suitable amusements. By little plan
ming and forethought, she may provide
many little inexpensive devices that will
add greatly to her child's enjoyment.
The following suggestions may be useful
to her when she is casting about for ways
and means:
First of all provide amusement for the
little toddler that clings to your skirts
impeding all progress. Procure store
box, large enough for him to move in,
and tall enough SO that he cannot climb
out, then put him in it and give him his
playthings. Remainder that the little
hands must have something to do, and
don't expect him to keep quiet unless he
is amused.
His playthings need not be costly. A
string of spools, some clothes pins,
rattle box, a ball and as many other little
trinkets as you can give him, will keep
him busy, happy and contented for
hours. 1t is good plan to put part of
his playthings away for few days, then
when they are brought out again, they
are new and amusing, and the ones he
has grown tired of may be laid away.
Thus keeping him amused by the con-
slant change, for even to the little ones,
variety is the spice of life.'
A box of advertising cards cut into
puzzling shapes for the children to put
together will afford quiet amusement.
Encourage them to make scrap books,
pasting in pictures and interesting stor-
les. They will enjoy a small box of
paints to use in coloring their pictures.
They must be taught to be neat and not
daub their clothing and the furniture
with paste and paint. Sewing cards af-
ford amusement and teach many things
besides. Pictures of easy outline may
be drawn on paper, then the children
sew these with bright colored thread.
Nearly all mothers know how to make
paper dolls and their clothes. I have
seen children work for hours dressing
and undressing these paper children and
making suits for them.
Perforated drawing cards will prove en-
tertaining. The children would also like
to own box of colored pencils. I re-
member again, we children used to play
game called numbers" The game is
played the same as "Authors." We
made the cards of pasteboard, marking
the number on each one with colored
pencil. Five cards of one kind make a
book. If the mother has any know
ledge OF literature, she can in this way,
make set of Authors in short time,
which will outwear bought set. Per-
NIT the children to cut out the pictures
from an old catalogue. They may keep
them in boxes for use when they play
"store." Teach them how to make toy
money, by placing a piece of paper over
coin, and then rubbing it hard with
a dull lead pencil. Buy as many games
for the children as your purse will allow.
Don't forget to lay in supply of suitable
reading matter for them. Store up in
your mind number of good stories to
tell the little folks when they are tired
of play.
Ii none of these devices mentioned are
apt to suit your boy perhaps he would
like little kit of carpenter tools. Don't
be too neat housekeeper to allow him
a place to whittle. He might better
making shavings all over the sitting room
floor, than be on the street. Many other
suggestions might be mentioned, but the
mother, once on the track, will find en-
tertaining materials on every hand.
Mother, set to work at once to prepare
pleasant occupations for your children.
When your little boy comes to you some
stormy day this winter saying, so,
Mamma, what shall do?' Don't answer,
For mercy sakes, sit down and keep
still awhile" but show him what to do;
direct his activities in the right way, and
you will not need to scold him for being
noisy.
A child is seldom cured Of fault by
'coidlng, it only emphasizes the fault and
osters In him spirit of contradiction.
study then to provide pleasant employ
nent Strive to make the winter the
most pleasant season the children have
pent, for by SO doing, you will make
unshine Tor the household and yourself.
The great secret of human happiness is
ms: Never suffer your energies to stag
late. The old adage of "too many irons
n the fire." conveys an untruth-you
annot have too many-poker, tongs and
ii, keep them going.