Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1918-01-02
TRAINING CHILDREN.
Suggestions by Mothers Who
Have Been Kindergarteners.
Issued by the United States
Bureau of Education and the
National kindergarten Asso-
citation.
(By Mrs. Elmira Hyatt.)

Punishment should never be in
ficted in anger, but should rather
be the natural consequence of the
wrong doing itself. Nature teaches
her laws in this way: If you go too
near a fire you are burned; if toa
much indigestible food is eaten SICK
ness results; and if you drop fra,
gile glass it will break. No one
ever questions the jastice of these
inevitable consequences, nor WILL a
child ever resent a punishment
which he feels to be the result OF
his own heedlessness or wrong do
ing. To quote Miss Harrison, A
child readily realizes that scattered
TOYS must be gathered up; that solled
clothes must be changed; that tardl-
ness necessarily brings loss of OPP
portunity; that money foolishly
spent by him will not be re-supplled
by the parent; that teasing or tor
menting the younger brother or sls.
ter causes loss of the society OF
the mistreated one; that petulance
on his part brings silence on the
part of the mother; that reckless
ness when on the street causes loss
Of liberty"
In families where several children
play together, too much cannot be
said in favor of a quiet hour, time
when each child shall be entirely
alone, undisturbed by others. If
the children are too old for daily
nap, they can be given some quiet
occupation or play, such as looking
at picture books, drawing with pen
Gil or crayons, cutting out pictures
with blunt-pointed scissors, making
scrap-books, modelling with clay or
plasticine, or stringing beads or but
tons. With older children, and
with babies too, .poise and self. +.
control are gained in the silence, :"
and the wise mother will give her
self as well as the children this hour
of rest.
1t is mistake to allow children
to play with dozen toys at one
time. Children can easily be taught
when very little to select and play
with one thing at time, and to put
it away in it's place before another
is taken. Even in crowded apart
ment it is possible to fit ur box or
shelf where each child can have a
place for his own treasures.
Toys which develop the imagina-
ton are better than intricate me-
chanical toys and elaborately dressed
dolls. Next to ball, the very best
plaything is set of blocks, which
is capable of being transformed
into anything desired-from train
of cars to pigeon house. Give a
boy of five hammer, some nails
and few pieces of wood and see
" hat he can make, the results are
often surprising. Children love to
create, and the toy which they have
made themselves will give a more
lasting pleasure than the usual elab-
crate plaything bought ready-made.
The occupations of grown.nps
have great attraction for children.
A few simple regular duties should
be given them every day. Work is
one of the greatest means of spirit
ual development, and the wlsest of
all teachers for little children.
Fredrick Frpbel said that child's
offer to help should never be re-
fused. To be sure, the mother may
at first find it far more of a hind
rance than help, but children of
four or five can learn to dress and
undress themselves, wipe the dishes,
dust the chairs, help make beds,
carry small pieces of kindling,
empty scrap. baskets, water plants,
and help in many other ways.
If the mothers spirit is right,
children will always love to help.
Children are little rehectors, and
soon catch the spirit of cheerful.
willing work. If they see work
done complainingly, what wonder
if they also begin to feel badly used
when asked to perform some simple
helpful service, and to look upon
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