The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1917-05-24
HE PLAY instincts are as
natural to the child as
those of hunger and
thirst Thev begin in

HSVINSH those OF hunger and
NGg thirst. They begin in
the cradle and form very import
ant part of the child's life and in
most cases the play becomes very
real. Whatever the child's play is,
it is as important to it as business
is to the business man. As it grows
older and is normal and healthy,
its waking hours are given to play
to such an extent that even maiden
aunts and grandmas bewail the
fickleness to which the race has
fallen, and solemnly declare that it
never was that way when they
were young. Even some of our
parents will complain that the
children are so bent ON play that
they cannot get any work out of
them. But the fact is that the lit
tie human animal is learning to use
his faculties through play. The
more energy child has the harder
it will play and the more it will
keep US guessing what it will do
next. But that's child's nature.
1t learns to handle its sepses by the
games it plays. The hundreds of
movements its little hands make
before it leaves the cradle teach it
manual control. When able to
walk it is constantly on the move
and often into trouble. The child
goes everywhere aud is especially
prominent where it is not wanted.
Also the natural desire to find out
is asserting itselfzz-yes, it is very
annoying and takes patience on the
mothers part, but it is all part of
its DEVELOPMENT, it will not really
know until it has experienced
something of the things it has
been warned against. You may
tell it the stove will burn, but it
has no idea of that until it has felt
the stove. In that way it learns as
it plays. But instead of trying to
keep it from play the wise parent
directs it in its play, and helps the
child to learn the meaning of life.
What play is to child sport is to
the youth and the men. There are
certain animal forces asserting
themselves in every normal youth.
It is claimed that the best way
to manage children is to let them
work out through the avenues of
sport. Plenty of wholesome sport
wisely directed is the best safe
guard of child's morals. If you
don't sweat and work some of the
animal out of it, it will come out
in other ways more injurious to
itself and others. 1t needs the
games and the athletics to keep its
life pare.
It is true they may giveit bruises
and aching limbs, but they are the
salvation of its morals. Encour-
age it to play the game and play it
we'll.
A boy needs sport to develop
the organs of his body. Play will
develop his muscle, courage, en-
durance. skill and judgment; not
only that, but they will do him
good. That is the way to grow.
IG is the natural way to grow. The
average boy goes into the game
enthusiastically, and consequently
gets more out of than his elders
would, and he will get experience
for the eye, capacity for-the lungs,
better circulation and freer pers-
piration. He will learn the control
of the various organs and their rel
alive interdependence. More than
that, he will learn his limitation.
And some day this will stand him
in good stead and help him to meet
mans responsibilities when the
time comes. By all means we
should encourage him to develop
through his sports. which teach
him self-control. 1t is easy to be
happy when we win.