The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-09-03
X PcOSnQ Effects in FrOCRS for Children attending School *
Teach Young Children
To AmHSe Themselves

If children were more often taught to
amuse themselves fewer ould be so
spoiled and whining would decrease.
The instant a child ceases TO use his
own little resources for amusement, or
II these have never been developed, Il
becomes absolutely necessary that an
infants time shall be occupied by an
other person, "Ise he is so miserable and
unhappy as 20 make himself I'll.
This extreme seldom arrives, Of course,
because long before it could s6ms one
has taken pity upon the lonely and IN
happy little youngster and found some
thing for him TO do. Thus is the child
| appeased at the expense Of time and
! thought, not TO mention nervous energy.
Of another who should be either putting
TINS force In another direction or saw
ing it.
Teaching a child TO amuse itself is
neither the hopeless nor long task that
some persons may think. They are
| clever, these children. and will rarely
I look after their own diversions If they
can md some one 10 do II for them.
therefore the first and most difficult
/ thlng 10 impress upon one is that he
must play by himself. doing not only
mat, but deciding upon the form CT play
| II taxes persistence and patience TO do
I effort
child too young TO select his own
/ TOYS should not be put in the middle
| on The hoor and told 10 do something.
nat IS unreasonable Until such time
/ as ne can make selection unaided he
should be helped but from the Garlic 81
/ time baby Of few months make a
cholce- Give him d ball, rattle, woody
sneepy and something else all at once
snd ne VIII select one and play with It.
/ As he grows older the preference con
| 9InueS' so that II a child Is put on the
/ ilS9 no, ne may De gwen several playthings
| and VIII take what he wishes He
should then be made 10 play with il.
/ Ihat IS 10 say, no attention should &c
paid TO him by anyone. and after a
TINE ne VAL learn that unless ne takes
{ the pldythings at hand and plays by
/ himself tnere viii be no amusement
As soon as child IS old enough TO
4 Walk and understand he can be sent 70
/ bis own room and told TO find something
I 70 DO. The phrase may be repeated 70
! him day after day until he learns what
Il really means. His nurse or mother
! may make suggestion as to what the
amusement should De, but IL she wishes
/ 20 bring up a res0uFCeful child she viii
/ let him alone after that 10 originate and
work out his own little ideas. While he
Is doing It, the maid or parent is free
10 do her own work or look after other
matters, and the chSd is far happier
than II he were whining and dragging
al some ones petucoats waiting 70 De
abused
/ Those toys that a child can make
things with are by far the best for one
who amuses himself. ColOTed pencils
land few pieces Of paper furnish en-
1Oyment for several hours So does Z
paint box, and blccks-thoUeh old-ar,
still amusing The taste Of each chilC
!shGUld bC studied a little by the mOthel
luatil she learns whether he would Tath.
Ter paint. OF hammer and when she find,
Tout this. his natural bent, the things
THAT he can use IL with should be gwen
i There should be some variety abou
them, too. Then leave him alone q
amuse himself It's no use TO say N
cant " doesn't know how. He vii
learn when he finds no. one pays an,
IaLteuti0n 10 him. though il may taks
idays for him 20 be quite convinced Ot
this.