The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-07-01
LITTLE CHILDREN
BY Mrs. L.enora X. Ranus

bN Nil y. lCllOId N. NdHuS
The play-instinct is inborn in all
children the world over; it is no
ture's own method for developing
the senses, the muscles and all bod
lily growth. Play is even more than
this: il is the outlet of expression
OF the childS inner lie. Many
faults as we'll as virtures may be dis
covered while watching children at
play. Perhaps mother will find
that her child is selfish or rude, and
it is easy TO discover a generous dis
position and good temper in the
course OF a play-hour.
Games are the expression OF the
play-spirit and toys are the instru-
ments necessary for the expression
of this activity OF child-life. AS a
farmer needs garden tools to do his
work, so child needs toys for his
play-or work, which play really Is
to him. And if toys are not pro-
vided ready made. he will invent
them. in order 10 be able to exercise
his play-spirit.
All play depends upon the physi-
cal condition OF the child. A nor
NAL, healthy child plays all the time,
is easily interested in his toys and as
he grows older invents games with
them. If child plays but little,
cannot easily be interested in his
toys, will not play alone and is cross,
look first to his physical condition,
then begin course of training. or
directed play. Start with sugges-
tion, why no; build high stee-
pie" or Make mother a train Of
cars with your blocks. Often,
especially in the case OF an only
child, ii mother can enter into the
play spirit and play hideandseek,
or march and sing, or even build
with the blocks, it is such treat
and often real help in promoting
a readiness to play alone when
mother must go back to her work.
Almost every child wants to help
mother sweep, dust, make beds,
wipe the silver, or run errands.
Make play out of the work and yet
let the little one feel he is really do
ing something. With tiny babies too
little even to walk, mother can
make play out OF work. Have the
high chair or the bassinette or car
riage in the room where you are
working and keep baby busy with
toys. For instance, if you are work
ing in the kitchen, let the baby have
a big spoon, clothes-pins, tin covers,
or anything new and safe, but al
ways keep these things for the
kitchen. If he is allowed to have
them all the time they soon lose
their interest and he becomes rest
less and unhappy.
A sense OF ncwness even with old
TOYS makes them desirable to
child. Children need change and
ycariety because their power OF CON
centration is not fully developed.
This is the plan | use with success
with my own little girl. Her box
Of dominoeS, her nest OF blocks and
her box OF building blocks (com-
posed of sixteen cubes), | keep on
A shelf in j closet out OF sight. |
also keep some picture books and
toys out of sight. Then when the
time comes, as it does SO many times
a day, when Little Girl says, What
| do now, muvver" | go to the
closet for a surprise. If | give her
the blocks, it is always with a sug-
gestion for making something with
them. She now comes to me and
asks for "a s'prise, muvver." When
she tires OF the blocks / have her
pick them all up, ready to put away,
before she can have another sur
prise" Sometimes, days at time,
she does not ask for a surprise, and
then when | do bring out the domi-l
noes. for instance, she is as delight
ed as if they were brand new. Her
dolls 1 separate in groups. 1t she
has four, put away two, and at the
end OF 4 week | bring out these two
and put away the two she has been
playing with. Ii you follow this
plan with all toys. grouping them
and keeping one set put away, you
will always keep the little ones in
and happy.