The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1918-05-02
TRAINING LITTLE CHILDREN
Article XV.-By Mrs. Lenore r.
RanuS


child has an active mind, but many
parents do nothing to strengthen or
train this vital part of their child's
life, leaving all mental development
to the teachers in the schools. Those
parents are indeed fortunate who have
kindergatens in their town or city,
for the kindergarten gives systematic
mental training to children as early as
the fourth year.
The easiest way to teach a child to
think is through play. The mother
can begin to sing Mother Goose
rhymes to the mere infant in arms
AS the child grows he recognizes the
words and often the tunes. Later,
he will ask for his favorte songs or
rhymes and then begin to sing or re-
cite himself. Up to this point the
mother has accomplished three
things: Strengthened the memory,
cultivated and ear for music and the
ability to carry simple tune, and en-
larged the chld's vocabulary.
Be sure to use only the best gram
mar when talking to a child. Baby
talk is funny for the grown ups for
while, but the difficulty the child
faces in overcoming this is tremen-
dous.
AS the child grows olders q story
hour should become part of each
day This is really a lesson in lam
guage. The mother should begin
with the finger plays when the child
is 8 or 8 months old, such as "This is
the church and this is the steeple,"
"Pat-a-c cake" and the counting les
son, "The thumb is one; the pointer,
two; the middle finger, three; ring
| finger, four; little finger, five, and
that is all you see" What the child
| initiates he begins to understand
That is the great purpose Of the finger
plays.
AS the child grows older story
be added to the story hour. A normal
child from about = years of age on,
loves the stories of "The Three
Bears" "The Three Pigs" Little
Half Chick" Little Red Hen," and
other similar simple tales, a list of
which will be found at the conclusion
of this article.
In telling stories to children, espe-
cially to very young children, avoid
the element of fear. Children love
best the stories they have heard be-
A -. 10 Lot {ln nID ii
choose his own story. Mother can
introduce new story when she deems
best. Another good plan is to have
the child tell mother a story some
times, as this will aid self-expression
and be lesson in language.
To teach counting, make use of the
play spirit again. In bouncing ball,
repeat the old-time jingle, zone, two,
buckle my shoe" You will be sur
prised at how quickly the little ones
will begin to count. Again, in build
ing blocks, make a game of count
ing by saying, "Give mother one
block" then "Give mother one, two,
three blocks" ct. 1t is unwise to
teach a child under numbers higher
than ten. They are well started if they
are able to count as high as this cor
rectly.
To develop the power of concentra-
ton, without which no human being
can be successful in life, there must
be certain amount Of directed play
each day. Children are given this in
kindergarten, and the mother can
also give it to them in the home.
When mother sews, the opportunity
to direct play is at once afforded by
having the child sit close by and sew
piece of loose-woven cloth, such as
canvas or scrim. A big, blunt-pointed
needle should be chosen for the pur-
! pose and tied securely to heavy
thread When the child shows evil
dences of fatigue the work should be
laid aside for another day.
Large, colored wooden, kinder