Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1912-06-18
Teaching Children Homework.

useful workers.
The principles explained by DR.. Hall
may be applied to the natural duties oil
children In the home.
1t il clearly recognized by many teach
ers and parents that the training IN
househol duties should begin at an
early age.
Young children always enjoy house
hold tasks. Imitation is one of the first
faculties to be developed, and the child
of four or FIVE years will be happy II
given q toy broom to play At sweeping,
or set OF dishes that it can wash and
wipe, "Just like mother"
A child can be easily entertained and
at the same time be learning something
useful If allowed to help the mother In
all the household tasks.
In washing dishes the mother can
wash and wipe all the heavy UTENSILS,
but ask the child to cleanse or dry small
dishes or pieces of silver, and then can
have it carry few dishes at q time to
the china closet where the mother can
afterwards arrange them. In this way
many steps are saved for the mother and
vet the child is not made tired and dis
gusted with work.
I remember once hearing q little girl
say: "Oh, our cook Is going to leave and
I'm so glad. l hope It will be q long
time before We get another"
Surprised at this statement / asked
her the reason why she was pleased, and
she answered: "Why, We have suoh good
times helping mamma do the work. We
play games when making beds or sweep
ing and pretend we are brownies or
fairies. Mamma tells US stories while
We are wiping dishes, and John plays he
is an express train and carries dishes 10
the cupboard for US; and, then, when We
get all the work done, mamma lets us
make fudge or taffy or have a little din
ner."
If mother postpones the teaching OF
household tasks until children nave
reached the age of ten or twelve years,
she finds Il almost impossible to interest
them in these duties.
The social instinct has now been de-
veloped and they bitterly resent being
kept away from their young companions.
Besides this, music lessons, and school
lessons which must be studied at home
occupy a considerable amount of their
time at this age.
One of the most essential things Is 10
teach children orderliness, and this
should be commenced before child Ia
two years old. Indeed, . very young
child can find entertainment In pickin &
up it's toys and putting them into the
proper receptacle.
Much labor is saved the mother, II
children attend to their own belongings
and put away their own clothes. 1t Ia
an excellent plan to have row of hooks
placed low In closet 80 that each child
can easily hang up Its own garments.
Each child should have its own particu.
lar corner of the closet and its own
bureau drawer, upon which no one else
should be allowed to infringe. 1t should
have its own washcloth, towel and comb,
always kept in the same place.
OF course, 1t is not to be supposed
that child under eight years of age can
be of real help In performing household
tasks. The mother must take more time
to "show how" and assist the little one
In its efforts than she would consume in
doing the work herself, but she Is build
ing for the future and will In q few
years reap rich rewards for the time and
patience expended.
An able bodied boy OF twelve, who has
been taught how to wash dishes, sweep
and dust room, or make beds, can save
tired mother many hours of hard labor,
and at the same time be kept under her
eye. IT the work is made pleasant, he
will really enjoy the active occupation.
The spirit of comrsdeship Is engen-
dered by the little son or daughter work.
ing directly with the mother. A golden
bond is formed that attaches them to
home and mother.
In the difficult problem of keeping
boys at homo In the evening, It may be
asserted that there is no surer way OF
making a boy love his home than by
making him feel responsible for certain
portion of the household work and
management.
In one happy household of young peo-
|ple, the two young men always help
mother and sister wash and put away
the dishes after the evening meal, and
take turns helping prepare and clear
away the Sunday dinner, In order that
uotuoi moy uoe 70 soo shou w ~ w
church.
Boys see nothing derogstory In house
work, If the subject is presented to them
in the right way.
When the teaching of cooking was in
troduced into the public schools in one
town, the boys wanted to enter the class
with the girls. When asked the reason,
one bright lad replied: "Why, We boys 60
camping every summer, and fine 1t
would be, II We could learn how to do
our own cooking!"
Several instances of the practical ad.
vantages of giving boys knowledge OF
homework have come under my observa-
ton.
In one instance, family consisting OF
mother, father, and boy of twelve
years, resided in suburban village.
When the mother was confined to her
room with rheumatism, the little fellow,
who had been accustomed to assist her,
took charge Of the entire work Of the
house for several weeks until she was
able to be about again. During this
period he arose early In the morning, and
while his father was feeding the horse
and milking the COW, the boy prepared
breakfast and carried q nice tray of food
to his mother. He then strained tho
milk, washed dishes, swept and busted
the rooms, etc., and always had an ap-
petizing supper waiting for his father In
the evening. OF course, the cooking was
simple, as the father brought bread,
cakes and pies from town. The whole
family was kept comfortable and the
boy was cheerful in his work, and receiv-
cd much praise for his usefulness.
In another case, the mother of family
died, leaving a husband and FIVE small
children, the oldest being . boy of ton
years, and the only girl being but six.
A relative took the young baby and kept
1t for several years. The father was
farmer, who was trying to pay for .
good farm and could III afford to en-
ploy . housskeeper. With some assist
ance from their father, these children
carried on the work Of the homo while
they we're attending school. No doubt
there were many defects In their man.
sgement that q trained housekeeper
might criticize, but the children were
healthy, good and happy, and grew up
to be useful, capable men and women.
What more than this can be asked for?
-Ex