The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1915-04-03
The Summer PLAYGROUND.

01dAy u SuS LOWI1S VI hduSdS COOk up
actively the local playground work DUR
ing last summer vacation and a still
larger number are arranging to get in
to the movement for the coming season
In order to stimulate the effort and to
assist In making it as successful as
possible the following suggestions are
offered:
SELECT LEADERS CAREFULLY.
The first step toward the successful
management of the vacation activities
of the children is to secure able leader
ship. AS a rule the second-class towns
have employed young man on full
time and a young woman TO give half
time service. The playground is 10
Gated as centrally as possible, perhaps
upon the school ground, and is kept in
use during about four hours each after
noon. The young man directs the boys
in their games and play activities and
the young woman has charge of the
girls and the little children of kinder
garten age.
Some of the second class cities and
many of the third class have gotten
along very satisfactorily with one
leader. In case only one leader is en-
ployed, whether it will be young man
or young woman will be determined
chiefly by local conditions. Presumably
a young man will be more able in d.
recting the boys in both their play and
industry. The young woman will be
naturally more able in handling the
girls and the children of kindergarten
age. In some instances young women
have also directed the boys work and
play most admirably. In few of the
very small towns the playground has
been successfully managed during three
afternoons per week.
The Child-Welfare Department at
the University will be glad to assist in
the selection of these leaders and will
undertake to keep list of available
ones on record.
CONNECT PLAY aND INDUSTRY.
1t is q mistake to supervise the sum-
mer play of the children and neglect
their industry. Equal attention should
be given to both of these. Therefore,
plan to give the children industrial
tasks to suit their age and strength
during the fornoon hours. Let it be
the business of the leaders to encour-
age the boys and girls to assist about
the home and to carry out regular
schedule of duties. For those boys who
have nothing to do at home arrange
classes in gardening or wood working.
At certain times engage them in the
task of cleaning up the town, taking
care of parks, church lawns, and the
like. Avoid all prize giving to individ-
uals. However, one group may be
matched against another in spirit of
friendly rivalry.
The garden classes should also work
in groups duuing two hour periods con-
Quoted two or three times per week.
Give each boy small plot, teach him
how to care for his garden, and allow
him to have the proceeds of his work.
The parents should buy part of the
garden produce. The boys of the wood
working class should be assisted in
making their own toys and playthings-
Some of the members may wish to
make fly traps to sell about town.
The leader should act as employment
agent and vocational advisor for the
larger boys and should be ready to send
small boys to those who wish to have
some light work done about the house
or home premises.
A COMMUNITY EFFORT.
These vacation activities Of the child
rem are destined to be regarded as a
part of an all-year school course. In
time all the school authorities will take
over and direct and pay for this new
work. Many are doing SO now. In
cases where they hesitate or refuse,
some voluntary organizations or COM
mittees may raise the funds rnd go on
with the movement. Such is being
done in many towns.
The playground equipment may be at
first rather crude, homemade stuff {.
Under the right leader the boys may be
induced to make the swings, see-saws,
ladders, and the other apparatus. Good
leadership means a minimum of neces-
sary play equipment. The chief pur-
pose of all this work is to keep the boys
and girls from idleness and evil conduct
and to help them engage in doing such
things during the vacation as will tend
to build up their characters. So the
leaders will not only have charge of the
play and industry suggested above but
will accompany the young people on the
occasion of their picnics, outings, and
the like. At certain appointed times
the whole community will be invited to
come out and participate in the play
and sociability and at least one after
noon per week the youag people of the
farming communities will be especially
invited.
How TO Raise The MONEY.
In case the School Board or some
other organization does not have the
funds available for this new child-wel-
fare movement, the necessary money
mny be raised by means of children s
play festival as follows:
plan &C for ahoad 40 TOSSibIo to have