South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-10-04

The trunk muscles need a great deal
OF exercise in the latter part of the year.
Instead of trying to keep the baby after
six months OF age looking like a 'spick
and span" fashion advertisement, and
tied in a carriage or chair lest he bump
his precious head, provide the arrange
ments for his creeping and tumbling
without at the same time getting a coat
ing of dirt and dust or an unnecessary
record of bruises.
In Summer heavy rug can be spread
on the dry grass, or at other times on
the porch or in an open-air room. 1t
should always be covered with a clean
cloth. Imagine yourself crawling on
hands and knees on a dusty floor. and
remember that babies have much less
resistance for disease germs. At this
tumbling creeping, climbing age rompers
are the only rational clothing, with knit
ted leggins and sweater for cool
weather. During those two or three
tumbling months, little padded cap will
protect the precious head.
To prevent spinal curvature he should
This advantage OF outlook upon the world
must wait until about six months, when
he can sit without support, and then it is
permissible only in fifteen minute pc
RODS, in chair or vehicle that permits
his legs to bend at the knee and provides
support for his feet. The spinal column
Is still soft cartilage. easily mis-shaped
and bent
For the first few months his sense OF
uearing and vision are incomplete. he is
sensitive to noise. and can vaguely dis
tinguish objects as masses, and bright,
moving objects. 1t is a great strain upon
these delicate nerves to permit a strong
light to shine directly into his eyes or TO
attach a shining, swinging object near his
face, in mis- moving carriage. He needs
gentle voices in the nursery. Loud clap
ping. shouting at him, pounding on some
noisy instrument to attract his attention
are all insults to his nervous system
At the sound-loving age, in the second
half OF his first year, a set of reins with
sweet-toned bells, a copper or brass bowl
that he can pound with a wooden spoon
even large Japanese gong, or the melo-
dious tones of a toy tubeaphone or drum
will satisfy his desire for noise and cuI
tivate taste for musical rather than
harsh sounds. Babies love music as soon
notice. They will listen attentively TO a
piano or violin or photograph. II is no
ticeable that toward the end of the first
year, at the time they are initiating vocal
sounds, babies who thus hear singing and
humming about them try to initiate the
singing, and early gain a range of tones
instead of a dull monotone.
Nursery songs and lullabies should
dave marked rhythm. Babies are sensi-
tive to rhythm. They are soothed by the
cadence OF nursery rhymes and poetry
long before they have he faintest com
prehensioD of the meaning OF words.
From the babies point OF view, Mother
Goose or Hiawatha or Virgil or Browning
will answer equally we'll
Before a toy is purchased ii should
qualify to pass at least the following ex-
animation: Will IL wash? VIII the paint
come of? Has it small attachments that
might be swallowed? Has IL sharp points
or edges? VIII IL break easily? Is it
large enough to grasp? Rubber and cellu-
loid balls. animals, undressed dolls, large
leather balls, pocketbook that can be
opened and closed. and the resources OF
the kitchen utensil cupboard. clothespins,
vegetables-what a wealth of natural toys
there is to delight and teach this very
little person. and teach him the rudiments
of shape and size, hard and soft.
Attention and concentration naturally
develop early. They can be cultivated by
not disturbing his absorption in the OBJ
1ect be is watching or experimenting
with. His curiosity and love of explora-
ton ask only space, with door and
drawer, lock and key and similar sim
pie objects sacred to his usage, for this
phase of his mental development while
he is creeping about.
AT eight or nine months he is ready for
some Of the nursery games of imitation
and surprise, such as peek-a boo. pat-a
cake, waving bye-bye, rolling and receiv
ing the ball. shaking hands.
b. the end Of the first year he has
learned to climb TO his feet and stanc
at least with support He is jabberin.
away a few sXllabies without meaning
He can handle cup and spoon with SONS
dexterity. He knows the meaning OF ODE
dience- He recognizes the members OF bis
family circle and ENJOYS his little games
with them. tie is no longer the helpless
infant h11 IS becoming : Person, ,oddhng
ouf if'a 'he great. nnk6CA0 world. eager
.s4 e.