The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-02-17
PLAY DISCUSSED
BY ASSOCIATION
Parent-Teaehers Meeting Yesterday
is Occupied With Interesting
Study Of Play and
Playmates.
RECREATION ESSENTIAL
Three Factors Enter Into This, Pro
fessor Dennison Declares-Mrs.
BeardsIey Talks on
PIaymstes.

Nerday afternoon. While the attend
ance was not so large as at some for
mer meetings. the program was OF q
very high order A short business ses-
sion was held, Miss Solomon presfd-
ing. The program for the meeting on
March 16 is announced by the pro-
gram committee: Paper, Children's
Studies and Accomplishments, Miss
Frances Martin, Childrens' Religious
farming, Mrs. John p Hornish. Music
will be provided for the meeting by
Prof Hayden and tea will be served
by the social committee.
The. first speaker at the meeting
yesterday was Prof. s. A. Dennison,
principal of the Carey school, who had
for a subject, Play and Occupation. He
said In part:
"Play is fundamental instinct in
children. Some authorities who have
sought the origin Of this instinct have
given three theories: first, that it is
simply means OF working OF the sur
plus energy; second, that play has a
definite purpose. namely to at the
child for his future occupation, and
third, that in play the child lives over
again all thu stages through which the
race has passed In reaching its pres
ent status. That play Is fundamen-
tai factor in the development and edu-
cation Of the child has for ages been
recognized by teachers and educators.
Aristotle and Plato and even Solomon
recognized the real use Of play. Froe-
bel was among the first to take def
mite advantage OF play as a means OF
education.
So IL
freedom, sympathy and right mater
ials. No exercise is play unless it is
free. A child should play in Gods
so far as possible to freely choose his
games and his manner Of play.
sympathy In Play.
THE second esential-that Of SYM
pathy, Is often lost sight of. The
mother will stop whatever she Is doing
to sympathize with the child il he is
hurt and to comfort him, but often
she would consider 1t waste Of time
to play with him. Yet he needs her
presence and interest and sympathy In
his joy as well as In his grief. The
third essential in play Is right mater
1aIs. Here Is where In the Keokuk
school grounds we And dificu1ty in
the several ages Of the children. The
four elements which nature provides
for children should be the materials
for their play. earth, air, fire and
water. To play with mud is universal.
No child in any land or age ever fail
ed to play with mud Clay modelling
Is a part Of every primary grade OF
this age. No yard in which children
play should be without a sand pie.
No child should fail to be allowed to
dig In the earth and make his own
garden. Air Is used, as playthfng In
flying kites and balloons and in maxi
ing and operating windmflls and blow
ing soap bubbles.
'sWater Is a favorite means OF play
Babies love to paddle in the water IN
th., bath tub A child will play for
hours pouring water from one recep-
tacle to another. or in sprinkling the
lawn. or In floating boats. Rowing,
swimming, fishing and skating all are
games enjoyed with water as the ma
terial
"All children love to play with IRE
It's danger is one of the first lessons
a child should be taught. An occa-
sional bonfire with proper supervision
always delights a; child The object
Of directed play is to give rise to per.
manent occupation and, habits. So in
the education of the child the step
from play to work may be bridged by
setting the child at some simple home
task, in such way as to make the
work a sort Of game or diversion and
not a duty to which he Is driven"
Children's Associates.
Mrs. Frank G. Beardsley gave de-
lightful talk on children's associates.
Among the points made in her paper
were: 'Tf q child were intended to
grow into man OF family merely then