The Elbert County tribune., 1919-02-28
EARLY EDUCATION IN HOME
BY MRS. wInIFRso c. msRoom

fession. n training In kindergarten
methods is required by law in prac-
tically every state In the Union why
is such traifling 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 philoso-
piers of the past and present, ana
these principles will help the indiv'd-
ual parent as well 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 If. as
mothers, we cannot have such train
ing or cannot send our. children to
Kindergarten, let us plan their early
educa tion in the home so that 1t VIII
Ie based as far us 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 1t Is important to see that
he receives only right Impressions and
has only right experiences.
The child is and should be con-
stantIy handling objects and constant
ly inqulring about them. Such In
qusitiveness is the greatest aid TO
education. How many Interesting
sights we pass over because we lack
the keen observation of n 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 l am. 1t does not mean. Keep out
of my way while | 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 the
flour white? The wheat is not white"
This question brings out the whole
story of bread. Don't merely tell it; (;
! see 1t If possible-the wheat-seed. the
growing wheat-field, the reaping, and
threshing. the flour-mill. the bakery.
Enrich the childs experience with pic
lures. stories and songs relating to
this subject, and after this a 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 n picture or draw one so
that he may not say, as a lady of
my acquaintance did, I've 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 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 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
musbrats in the creek. 1
Are Always Learning
In play children are constantly edu-
eating themselves. They are learning
to direct their attention sd 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 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
harranges my drawer of thread. learns
the colors and plays n game, guessing
which color is gone from a long row
of spools.
a set of colored kindergarten balls,
n box of crayons, or later a box of
paints make an excellent gift and aid
in color training. Colored papers and
"A small pair of scissors will occupy
many 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
marching and skipping. Have the
l..l.iI. LII L.