The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1919-03-13
kindergarten
Helps for Parents
Articles Issued by the Department
of the Interior. Bureau of Education
and the
N0h0n0IK fnderg0rtenASs0ckofion
PLAY FOR MOTHER AND BABY
BY MRS. MARGARET WILSON
HEALD.

7eAIO.
Baby is instinctively active from the
time he is born. Little feet kicl
about, little hands reach all around
And mother instinctively attempts tc
guide and develop this activity. From
time immemorial mothers have played
with their babies toes and sung tC
their babies fingers; and so we have
the ever new-old baby classics; "Pat-
a-cake;" "Bye, Baby Bunting;" "Sleep,
Baby, Sleep" "Rock-a-bye, Baby;'
"This little pig went to Market" and
ride a Cock-horse to Banbury, Cross"
There are many other little plays
or games of this kind, not so well
known, but which the trained mother
makes use of to catch first sense per.
ceptions, train the awakened emotions
and hold fast the affections. They
minister to baby's growing activities
in right ways, before wrong ones can
assert themselves. 49,.
The following plays, with music. are
to be found in "The Songs and Music
Of Froebel's Mother Play" D. Apple
ton & Co., N. Y. publishers :. price,
$1.6O.
Naming the Fingers.
Baby points to each finger as de-
scribed. In this game he becomes ac-
quainted with his hands, his fingers,
himself.
This is little Tommy Thumb,
Round and smooth us any plum.
This is busy Peter Pointer;
Surely he's a double-jointer.
This is mighty Toby Tally;
He's the biggest one of all.
This is dainty Reuben Ring;
He's too fine for anything.
And this little wee one, maybe,
Is the pretty Finger-baby. 2
All the five we've counted now, -
Busy fingers in q row,
Every finger knows the way
How to work and how to play;
Yet together work they best,
Each one helping all the rest.
Laura E. Richards.
The Greeting.
Baby's hands are held up, facing
each other, and do as hidden. In this
little game, baby advances from know
Ing to willing, and his fingers are his
tools, to be used for a definite DUR
pose.
Thumbs and fingers say, "Good morn
ing,
It's a very pleasant day;
Little pointers bow politely,
Tall men nod and smile so brightly {:
While the rest with joyful greeting.
All their little friends are meeting.
Eleanor Smith.
The Family.
Played with the baby hands held
up, first one and then the other, and
beginning with the thumb. In this
game, baby becomes acquainted with
the world just Immediately outside
himself.
This is the loving mother,
Always good and dear;
This is the busy father, "
Brave and full of cheer;
This is the merry brother,
Grown SO strong and tall;
This is the gentle sister,
This is the baby small;
And here they all together meet.
This whole glad family complete.
Here's grandpaa and grandmamma,
And father, too, and mother,
With baby wee, n family;
Oh, how they love each other.
The aunt and uncle now we see,
And little cousins, one-two-three:
And this good family is found
In happy love together bound.
--Emilie POulsson.
Going a little farther afeld. babv
VIII now enjoy finger games of animal
families. A number Of charming
ones suitable for this period of baby
education can be found in Emile
P%oulsson's Finger Plays" published
by Lothrop, Lee and Shepard Co.. Chi.