The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-09-01

from his carriage or CRIB II VIII heiP
him to learn to focus his eyes, and
he will be amused by it for long
time. When the child is little old
er. let him sit on a quilt on the iloor
and play with several balls III the
six colors, red, orange, yellow,
green. blue and violet. Each bail
should have worsted string OF the
same color attached to it. When
the child is a little older still, play
simple little games with him, such
as rock-a-byc baby, pendulum OF a
clock, swinging the ball back and
forth and up and down, and in 9th
er ways that will occur to every
mother. UnconSciously the child
will acquire a sense of form, color,
motion and position by such games.
Say to him, See the pretty round
bail" "Sec the pretty red paper,
and the child will delight to find
and bring to you other things that
are round like a ball, and red like
the paper. A set OF worsted balls in
Illc SIN COlDlS NdIl NC pbAhIhNh iiC'AA
kindergarten supply houses.
Long, slim clothespins make cX-
celent playthings for babies. They
can be used as babies or soldiers, or
to make fences, trees, log houses
and many other interesting things.
Playthngs that can be taken apart
and put together again are good TO
have; also blocks with which the
child can build all kinds Of objects
engines that he can push along
the floor, balls to bounce and throw,
doll carriages, washing sets, etc,
Dolls with clothes that button and
unbutton and come off may be used
to teach the children how to dress
and undress themselves.
For older children kindergarten
beads are very useful and helpful.
They are in the form Of half-nch
wooden balls, cubes and cylinders,
in the six colors and also in the nat
ural unstaincd wood. a Shoelace or
bodkin and cord is used for string
ing them. | would suggest, to be-
gin with, that the child string balls
only, and all in one color. After he
has made long string OF these ask
if he would like to use two coIorN.
He will probably string them IN IT.
regular order at first, and II 50 1t
will be necessary to suggest alter
mating the colors, putting on two OF
one color aud one Of another, and
50 on. In this way he will soon learn
all the colors and numbers perhaps
up to six or eight and Will know
one form.
What else is there with which lit
tie children's hands can be kept oc-
cupied? First OF all, sand. Just turn
the children loose in a pile or box
of sand with spoon, pail, a cup,
or anything with which they can
dig or shovel. ! personally do not
like to have sand in the house, but
if YOU have a suitable place ior it,
it need not make any trouble. An
old kitchen table turned upside down
with the legs cut short and put on
the other side makes good table
for sand. A piece OF burlap or
denim placed under the table keeps
the sand from being scattered over
the house. Children can early be
taught not to scatter it.
With clay, simple little cradle
NAV be made. The child first rolls
piece into a ball, cuts 1t i'll hall,
with a string. One OF the these
halves forms the lower part OF the
cradle. The other he cuts in two,
using one piece for the top and re-
modelling the other into ball Tor
baby.
Birds nests with eggs can be
made with clay; also apples, oranges
cups an saucers, and even annals
may be attempted. In fact, clay has
almost endless possibilities as play
material. Plasticine is the best kind
of clay to use, as it is easily handled
and is always ready.
For little children, before they are
old enough to use scissors. tearing
paper is an engaging occupation.
Tear a piece of old newspaper into
an oblong shape-it may be any
size, about 2x4 inches we will say.
BY folding this in the middle it will |
make little tent. Again, fold III
birds, turn both ends down for a
table. The child can tear paper into .
trees, a ball, doll babies and many .
other simple shapes.
When the child is old enough |
he can begin to use scissors but be
sure to provide a pair with blunt
points that cannot possibly hurt !
him. These will afford endless
hours of amusement and profit.
Have you found that "he cuts papers
all over the floor?" OF course he !
does. but use this occasion to teach |
him neatness. Let him have his
own little waste-basket, and he will |
delight in picking up the papers.
Let him cut pictures from old
magazines and paste them into a
book made from manila wrapping |
paper. To make the book, take any |
desired size of paper, fold several
sheets in half, and sew them to-
gether along the crease. A pretty
picture might be pasted on the front
page or the child could draw one on
:. TIL, ,,.;II tole many dave work |