The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1917-05-02
Children's Gardens
ny ~. ARLINGTON BRUCn
Author Of "Phe Riddle OF Person
Atty" Psychology aud
Pareuthood." etc.

II you have any space TO grow
vegetables, and have decided this
year as ! trust YOU have. 90 help
ight the high cost OF living by cul
tivating a vegetable gardea. let me
offer this suggestion
Give your children a chance 10 do
patriotic work themselves by shar
ing in the gardening Better stin.
set apart a section OF your home
garden for the little ones 90 plant
and take care OF as their very own.
II viii allow the children To feel
that they too are serving their coun.
Try. And. aside from this important
effect in the strengthening IN them
OF The spirit OF true patriotism. 10
will be OF tremendous benefit TO
them morally. mentally. and phys.
icany.
In my home nelghborhood. two
summers ago. there was started
community garden for children. The
main purpose was 10 keep the chill.
dren OF the streets. and al the
same time provide them with pleas
ant occupation during The summer
holidays
Each child was given a little gar
den plot Prizes We're offered for
The nyatesf garden me most pro
Ouctiye garden etc The children
themselves entered into the pro
lect With unexpected enthusiasm
All summer the chrdren's garden
was scene OF pleasing activity
And when results were reckoned ~
the end OF the summer. certain in
teresting discoveries were made
II was found that the children
were healthier than al the summers
beginning Il was found that they
had developed more initiative. self
respect. and sense Of responsibility
And not only had many OF them
acquired real skill as gardeners. bur
almost all Of them showed greater
mental alertness.
When school rcopened they eager
ly and briskly attacked their les.
sons Formerly, after every long
vacation they had gone thru pre-
liminary period Of lethargy and mat
iention before settling down to
work
Clearly the community garden, by
keeping the children In the habit
Of linking TO good purpose had
/ prevented the formation 81 those
habits Of mental Incidence which
have caused some educators 20 wish
The summer holidays mizht Dee aool
ished or much shortened
The results 81 this experiment D.,
| dicate that similar community gar
dens for children might advantage
ously be established on vacant
lots in all cities They further in
dicate that In every home whore
there is 4 private garden. he chill
drcn OF the family should be en-
couraged 10 take hand n The gar
dening
This year particularly chHdren's
reality They can De made sources
OF genuine pleasure for the children.
as well As factors that count 70 ths
solving OF the serious problem ~
wartime food production
OF course, there must be no over
working OF the children. They must
not be deprived ~ opportunity 70
romp and play But some OF their
play time avery day they could
probably spend, and should spend
gardening
Think this over, II YOU are a par
ent Talk 10 your children about H..
! Tactfully create In them a desire for
gardening II such desire 81 NOT -
ready present Learn about garden
ing yourself. In order that there
may be no wasted effort
Then set to work. with your chill
dren 20 SOW and weed and cultivate