The Benson signal., 1919-03-01
EARLY EDUCATION IN HOME
By MRS. wlNIFRED G. M'BRooMD


tie children of four and five as a pro-
fession, a training in kindergarten
methods is required by law in prac-
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 phlloso-
piers of the past and present, and
these principles will help the indlvld-
ual parent as we'll as the teacher to
interpret his surroundings, to form
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 Ii, as
mothers, we cannot have such train
ing or cannot send our children to
kindergarten, let us plan their early
education in the home SO that 1t Will
he based as far as possible upon SOUND
principles of child-study.
The child between the ages Of three
and six years is very impressionable,
and upon his early experiences must
be based his whole future education.
Therefore it is important to see that
he receives only right impressions and
has only right experiences.
The child is and should be~,-ceH-
stantly handling objects~and constant
ly inquiring about them. Such in
quisitiveness is the greatest aid to
education. How many interesting
sights we pass over because we lack
the keen observation of a child! HE
who is interested in much has in ad-
vance a great advantage over the in
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 I mix this bread"
1t means, Roll up your sleeves and
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 if 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 tho
flour white? The wheat is not white"
This question brings out the whole
story of bread. Don't merely tell it.;
see it if possible-the wheat-seed, the
growing wheat-field, the reaping, and
threshing, the f1our-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
est 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 a lady Of
my acquaintance did, "Pve always had
such desire to see strawberry
bushes"
City children ask, "Why is there a
picture of a COW on the butter pa
per?" If you cannot visit a dairy or
a creamery, buy a gallon of milk and
let the child skim it and churn the
cream into butter with the egg beater.
Then after he has salted it, let him
eat some on his bread. My country
children ask, How did the firemen
know there was a 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 a 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 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, left); 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 long row
Of spools.
4 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
many a stormy day profitably. The
mother who is at all musical can train
the ear to detect high and low tones,
loud or soft bells, and music for