The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1918-12-20
kindergarten
Helps for Parents
Articles Issued BY fIbe Department
OF ghe Interior, Bureau of Education
and fhe
National Observation-Disclosures
BABYS INTELLIGENCE
By MRS. HARRIET HELLER.

Ii was TO obtain important infOrma-
don one morning not long ago that !
yentured TO ask admittance to Il beau
tiful rose-embOwered cottage across
the street from my new home.
A charming young mother met me
mt the door holding her baby on her
arm. She endeavored to answer my
question In gracious and neighborly
way, but was constantly interrupted by
the child's cries.
While we stood there the infant was
gently changed from one arm to the
other, then PIT upon her shoulder.
Later when we were seated within, she
rested her upon her knee in the time
honored position supposed to give com
fort to disturbed dummies" All to
no purpose. The little one fused and
| fused.
Quite naturally we fell to talking of
babies. The young mother was thor
| Oughly versed I'm modern lore; she
knew rules, regulations, symptoms,
remedies, foods and all the rest, and
was enthusiastic about the modern sci
ence OF bringing UP infants.
"As far as I can see. there is moth
ing the matter with her" she said.
POSSIBLY her teeth hurt her. She is
young to have teeth. but sometimes
YOU know" and so on. The observn-
ton about the teeth was made in the
personal infection, which she would
have used to say. "The machine Is cut
ting the thread"-as II teeth were Il
cOntrivance 10 be adjusted by bolts
and screws. Not once in my presence
had she spoken to her baby.
Wanted to Be Noticed.
It was evident to me that her mod
ern training, while essentially desir-
able, had largely destroyed the instinc-
tive expression Of the natural mother.
To her, baby was primarily mechan-
ism, and If she did not know of any
mechanical means Of correcting an up
set condition, she was quite at a loss
what 10 do. Baby, for her part, II
seemed to me, was persistently deny
Ing this classification. She was not
only something, but somebody, and she
wanted the fact recognized
thought ut once of the way Froe
bel, the founder Of the kindergarten
shows us how to meet such need In
his Mother Play book, and how
wished could try it. Just then the
young mother was called to the phone
and I seized my opportunity.
Miss Baby was comfortably depOs
tied on couch near me, but after 9
moment or two continued fretting and
tossing her hands restlessly. Leaning
over her touched the little fists gent
ly. thinking this greeting. "How de-
you do, little one? You are getting Il
be a big girl, and you want some ont
to know. believe you want some ont
to notice you and talk with YOU"
NV touch must have aroused her no
tice because she gave heed. 1 mex
slipped my forefngers into the palms
Of her hands and baby-fashion sh'
gripped them. "How do you like Il
hold my fingers2" asked. Very gent
ly then I began to raise her into {
sitting position and she smiled as sh'
felt her head leaving the pillow. WheI
she could hold on no longer she fel
back. Three times did this, allowin,
her to fall back more quickly eacl
time. Baby enjoyed the slight shoc)
in falling, and N her little way in
creased in strength and in the con
seriousness Of strength. She was nov
perfectly satisfied; her need for recog
milton and self-activity had been met.
Song for Baby.
The conversation at the phone still
continued and while waiting I tried t.
recall the song to sing with this little
game. In q few minutes, when bah!
was ready to play Failing, Falling
again, ! sang softly, lifting her Till
time by holding my hands at her back
Down goes baby.
Mothers pet;
Up comss baby,
( Laughing yet.
Baby well may lsug. at harm.
While beneath Is mothers arm.
Down goes bGby,
Without fear:
Up comes baby.
Gaily here.
All Is Joy for baby while
In the light Of mothers smile.
Upon her return the little mothe
expressed great admiration for m
skill as baby-charmer. 1T was quit
simple" said and described what ha
happened. She was much intereste
and wanted to know more about FrOe
bells Mother Play.
A few days later when she came {
call I had my old worn copy of tn
Mother Play ready to show her.
surprised her to learn that this boo
which is used so much by kindergar
teners was Written especially for moth
ers with children up to six years old
and she listenedl eagerly rs I shove,