The Ordway new era., 1919-02-28
EARLY EDUCATION IN HOME
BY MRS. wlnIFReD G. m'sRoom.

For those who intend to teach lit
tie children of four and five as pro-
fession, training in kindergarten
methods is required by law in prhc-
tically every state In the Union. why
is such training not equally necessary
for those whose future work Will prob
ably be home making? The broad
principles underlying kindergarten
training have been thought out for us
by many great educators and phiioso-
pliers of the past and present, ana
these principles will help the individ-
ual parent as well as the teacher to
interpret his surroundings, to form a
wiser attitude toward life, and TO love
and understand children. Such an
education Is almost Indispensable to
mothers who would give to their chill
dren the best of all opportunities-the
opportunity to grow Alright. But H. as
mothers, we cannot have such tram
ing or cannot send our children to
kindergarten, let us plan their carry
education in the home so that 1t VIII
lie based as far as possible upon souhu
principles of chlld-study.
The child between the ages of three
and six years is very impressionabie,
and upon his early experiences must
be based his whole future education.
| Therefore it is important to see that
he receives only right Impressions ana
has only right experiences.
The child is and should be con-
stantly handling objects and constant
Iy inquiring about them. Such i'm
qulsItiveness lis the greatest aid to
education. How many Interesting
sights we pass over because we lack
| the keen observation of child lie
who is Interested in much has in ad-
vance great advantage over the ln-
! different person and remains younger
| even In age; whereas the Indifferent
becomes old in the seasons of youth.
| Let the child live with you. This Is
not easy for busy farmers wife such
as | am. 1t does not mean, keep out
of my way while l mix this bread"
1t means, "Roll up your sleeves ana
wash your hands. Now dip out four
| quarts of flour for me-" Perhaps some
of the flour may be spilled. but only
by using the hands will the child
learn motor control. What II the bis
cults are not all smooth? By making
three rows of four each. he Will be
learning valuable number facts.
Answer All Questions.
The child may ask. "Why is the
flour white? The wheat is not white
This question brings out the whole
story of bread Don't merely tell 1t ;
I see it If possible-the wheat-seed. the
growing wheat-field, the reaping, and
threshing, the four-mill, the bakery.
Enrich the chIld's experience with pic
| lures, stories and songs relating to
this subject, and after this slice of
! bread will be an object of new inter
rst to the child.
Tell in the same way about the
| strawberries that he eats with his
bread. Where do they come from? If
YOU cannot show him the growing
plants, find picture or draw one so
that he may not say, as lady OF
my acquaintance did. I've always had
such desire to see strawberry
bushes"
City children ask. "Why is there a
picture of COW on the butter pn-
PERI" II you cannot visit dairy or
n creamery. buy gallon of milk and
| let the child skim 1t and churn the
cream into butter with the egg beater.
Then after he has salted 1t. let him
eat some on his bread. My country
children ask, How did the firemen
know there was fire" Their father
| took them to the fire house to see the
alarm bell and the boots, clothes and
brass pole ready for the night alarm.
When fathers go to the field to see
the oats planted they should take
their five-year-old boy or girl along
and tell the story of the growth OF
| the seed.
On the way for the cows, sharp eyes
may find badger hole or see some
muskrats In the creek.
Are Always Learning.
In play children are constantly edu-
eating themselves. They are learning
| to direct their attention and their mo-
tions persistently toward a definite
end. We can suggest plays and tasks
which will train the eye to see quickly
and teach the colors, directions (front.
back, up. down, right lefD; the points
of the compass. the time of day. and
the days of the week. My little four
/ year-old learns much as she sits be-
side me at the sewing machine. She
arranges my drawer of thread, learns
the colors and plays game, guessing
which color is gone from n long row
| of spools.
A set of colored kindergarten balls.
box of crayons, or later box of
paints make an excellent gift and aid
in color training. Colored papers and
small pair of scissors will occupy