The Detroit times., 1915-12-06
Your Child's Toys
BY n. ADDlNGTON BRUCE,
Author OF The Riddle OF Personality
Psychology and Parenthood. etc.

Christmas--the children's seasons rapidly
approaching Already, no doubt, your little ones
are bombarding you with hints as to the toys
they hope you will give them.
But do not let them caiole you-do not OF
your own accord fal-into the mistake OF giving
them too many and too costly toys
That would be no true Kindness to them II
might have mischievous results of most ser
ious sort.
I know boy, the son Of welltodo parents
who made il point, when he was little fellow,
TO give him every toy he wanted. Also they
gave him many toys for which he expressed no
desire at all.
II mattered nothing TO his father and mother
that he never played any length Of time with
any particular toy. and that the more they gave
him the more he demanded.
They did not deem IL of any significance that
simple inexpensive toys soon came 10 be regard
ed by him with something approaching con.
tempt.
Their one thought was to please and surprise
him by unexpected and varied gifts. They could
do this a. they had plenty of money. So why
should they not 90 IL?
Tic answer is to be found in the character
Of their son, now student in fashionable
preparatory school
lie is sturdy, manly appearing fellow. But
colOssally lazy
His mind works s'uggishly. Sometimes he
seems TO be quit without imagination. quite
barren Of ideas. Alresdy his parents have been
| forced to acknowledge that be is inferior 10
/ the average boy.
They do not realize. however, that this Is
chiefly the outcome of his pampercd upbringing
Still less do they realize that II g. In large part
a result Of the avalanche OF toys with which
he was flooded during the first years uf life
Beyond the slightest question IL Ia better 70
give a child no tops az all than 70 give him too
many.
things common objects in which By THE tx
/ ERCISE or HIS IMAGINATION he hads quail
ties that entertain him.
! To strengthen the mind by exercise is one
| OF the great purposes Of toys For this reason
in choosing "a toy Tor your child. be sure Z,
choose one THAT LEAVES SOMETHING &c
! THE IMAGINATION, and one THAT CAN BE
! NARIorSLN USED AS YOUR CHILDS FANCY
/ DICTATES
The toy that leaves nothing 70 tho magma
ton and Is adapted 90 only one use Is the poor
est kind OF toy. II is TOY Of which your chile
is certain 10 tire quickly Expensive. compli
Gated toys fall conspicuously into this class.
| On the other hand. the box Of building blocks
/ the boz OF paints the not too costly do-thes
are toys with which the childs imagination cal
work To good purpose
But II you multiply toys. II you give then
too abundantly, then comes indifference, safety
neglect. In place OF a creative working Of th'
imagination there will be an unhealthy crayinl
for novelty for variety. for toys that thrill an,
astonjsh by their glitter and complexiiy.
Simplify your Child's playthings and you vii
thereby strengthen beth hia- mind and his char
actar Turn his nursery into a toy shop and
you are in a fair way 10 spoil him mentally anC
morally.
Parents. remember this when you set out "a
buy your child's Christmas toys. Get him only
4Dm2 oZe which will be of real constructive