The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1904-07-16
THE RIGHT WAY OF
ENTERTAINING CHILDREN

ENTERTAINING CHILDREN
How often one hears a mother say:
Il have offered my children almost
anything if they would give up the idea
of having party" In some cases the
mothers objections may arise from her
own laziness or indifference to the chill
dren's enjoyment, but oftener from her
inability to make party of this kind
successful
It is not difficult matter to make
children have a jolly good time at a
party If you go about it in the right
way. Many persons imagine all that
is necessary in this direction is to invite
certain number of children who are
likely to be congenial, provide a dainty
supper. and when someone to play for
them is secured they think the success
Of the whole affair is assured.
This hit or miss method is a very
dangerous one, as you never can tell
how your small guests are going to act.
have seen children who have played
together for years i'm the happiest kind
of fashion behave like perfect sticks at
a party, and. in fact. act as if they
had never seen each other before in
their lives
Children are not sufficiently unto
themselves at these functions. They
require someone to suggest and lead
and make things go" When this is
done. they are only too ready to fol-
low and are the merry little creatures
of their own games in the street or the
play room.
Large and smart children's parties
g 49, . ,,f
practical details, as the important item
of expense does not affect their ar
engagements. 1t is simply a matter of
ordering things and engaging the serv-
ices of an entertainer who sees that
everything is bright and gay. A num-
Der of attractive women have gone into
the entertaining of children as a bust
ness, and their services are very much
sought after.
If q juvenile ball is Overland the
up-to-date young ladies and gentlemen,
who are nothing save a reflection of
their elders, demand these elaborate
functions now-the ball room is deco
rated as for an ordinary grownup per
sons ball. There are music and flowers
and a ball supper is served by promi-
nent firm. The cotillion favors are
costly and dainty. and everything is
most conventional and unchild-like.
The parties we are writing about are
of the old-fashioned variety, where
children are not dressed up puppets,
but healthy, pleasure-lOving, normal
developments. But the average affair.
even of this description, is not given
without effort. for it is an effort to con-
vert a pretty drawing room into
children's play room, and TO crowd
mn Of int oil
ing room. 1t is hardly necessary to say
that as much space as possible should
be gained in a room by moving all
movable things and putting out of dan
ger valuable china, as games when
played are apt to become boisterouS.
If carpets are on the floor they should
be covered with crash.
When a dozen or so children are to
be asked, little notes written by some
member of the family are sufficiently
formal. For larger affairs regular Eat
home" cards should be used. with "Ju-
venile Party" printed in one corner.
A perpleXing question to most host
esses is that they have so many diff
ferent sets to entertain that it is not
easy to give a party for those of one
age only. Most children have brothers
and sisters who cannot be left out of
the invitation. Consequently the
guests often include big boys from
school, girls in their teens and tiny
mites from the nursery.
The best way to dispose of this mot
ley crew is to detail one person to
lead each group. The tiny tots, when
possible. should have room to them
selves. and if kindgartener is pro-
durable her services are invalua BILE in
playing the pretty Froebel games with
the little ones. Dancing for the older
boys and girls is the favorite amuse-
ment. After general dancing. pretty
german figures, such as the scarf and
mirror dances, are always enjoyed. To
be sure. they are not new, still the
very fact of their age insures success, !
as everybody is sure to know them. (
Cotillion figures founded on fairy tales
and nursery rhymes can be made at
tractive, and it is a good idea to make
them appropriate to the season. In /
the summer a Maypole dance is an ex- !
cellent scheme.
An important point to remember is !
to start the ball rolling as soon as a I
few of the guests have arrived, with +.
some simple game-for instance, hunt |
The slipper, London bridge, Or drop the /
and as the others come
N they VIII JOin, ana the hollddy spirit |
S caught before they know it. The |
success of the party depends upon just |
how these first few minutes are han
He'd.
It is well, when planning the games,
10 have first a sit-down one and then
/ more active one. and always keep in
mind that children like to be doing
hings. They don't want to sit still AT
/ party and be told stories. Zoological
blind mans buff is an excellent stand
lp game. Blind one of the company
and set him in the center of the room
Win a wand or feather in his hand An
he other players must form a ring
rouRd. Initiating the noise of any ami
nal he chooses. the blindfolded person
ouches one of the members of the ring
he i'm his turn must initiate the sound
% the best Of his ability, and if the
person can decide who he
s, be blindfolded, and the other re-
eased. and so the game proceeds. This
s new form of blind mans buff and
t is most MISUNDERSTANDING Ladies
Magazine.
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