The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1918-03-28
Training the :
Little Children
Issued by the United States Bureau
OF Education, Washington, ID. c..
and tho National kindergarten
Association, New York, N. Y.
CBy Mrs. Bertha Emelin)

mood years, there II no more Valua-
Bile aid for the mother who desires to
promote the well-being of her chill
dren than walks and talks. It is
usually most difficult for the homo-l
keeping mother to find sufficient
leisure-Aor rather. uninterrupted
le,sure-to concentrate on work or
play with he children. We are all
only too familiar with cle interrupt
tions of the butcher, the baker, the
telephone, the friendly neighbor,
which breaks in repeatedly until one
gives up" in despair. But when
you leave your home and its distrac-
tions behind you. you begin to realize
that you have found a way in which
you can say with Froebel. Come. let
us live with our children"
These walks and talks can be use
full both to the city mother and the
country mother, though II will be
easily seen that the country mother
has the advantage in this respect. The
city mother will have to substitute,
for the suggestions below. the city
parks. the river or lake front. visits
to the large factories. museums and
historic points OF interest. You can
make the walks as long or as short
as your leisure permits; you can plan
tthom for every day or every other day
morning or afternoon; and after
months trial you will begin 10 real
lie their value for yourself as much
as for the children. The blue sky
and the groat outdoors win take you
away from the pet tiness OF the thous-
and and one trifles that continually
intrude themselves upon your atten-
tlon while you remain within four
walls. and they will be equally up
lifting In taking tho little ones away
especially Is this true In small
towns-from the petty small talk
that emanates from the porches
and the front sheps and passes along
tho sidewalks from house TO house
Iand from child to child.
II Is well for you to decide upon
your destination before. you call the
children with Lets go TO the poad
todayl"---or This is a great day for
the woods!" A playmate or two taken
along occasionally (and frequently a.
you have but one child will lend ad-
ditional zest TO the walks and will en-
large your opportunities for getting
better acquainted with your own
children In relation TO their play
mates.
In the case OF very young children.
places very near home will serve as
well as the more distant goals which
are usually more attractive TO the
other children. The pond or he
stream under the bridge or the water
front. the beach. or the rocky bould-
ers that can be scaled. or the woods
seek them out In your vicinity. Try
every road and see where Il leads to.
The adjoining town. II II be within
two or three miles. makes a splendid
objective point with older children.
and a trolley ride win bring you
back should time or fatigue make Il
necessary.
Try TO forget all your grown-up
dignity on these walks ESPECIALLY n
Il be a country road and have Ss
much fun and laughter as the chil-
dren are ready for Wear only stout
shoes and 'roughing" clothes, Some
times permit the children TO take
skates. or a bicycle. or velocipede.
a hoop. or horse reins All these will
provide additional attractions when
the children seem loath TO leave their
qreet play.
N These walks will develop your chill
dren physically fully as much as any
Systematic exercises. and the variety
OF stunts that will be Initiated
along the road will astound you. In
some OF them you may join; others
will teach You 70 have control OF your
nerves while the children develop
strength aud independence thereby,
so far az tire physical activities are
concerned. you need suggest very lit
tie; the children viii initiate as much
as there are time and energy for.
There will be walking forward and
backward. sometimes with eyes shut.
sometimes on stone walls and In
bitches; there will be running. skip
ping. hopping. jumping from differ
ent heights. whistling and singing.
games OF follow MASTER racing.
stone-throwing and stick-throwing
into ponds and trees, and tree-climb-
ing
That the walks and talks are
a great mental stimulus is readily ap-
parent. when one reflects for a mo-
ment upon the opportunities for ask