The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1920-11-18
PLAY AS, A MEANS
OF CHILDCONTROL
(By. Frances A. Cray


Parents seldom realize how often
the child's imagination and the play
instinct can be utilized in securing
obedience.
Little Dick, age four, had been ill
and was just recovering, so his moth
er was alarmed one cold winter day to
discover that he had become thorough
ly chilled and that his little hands
were icy. In her effort to warm him
up quickly she tried to induce him to
drink some warm milk. But Dick,
who had grown somewhat irritable of
late. absolutely refused. He threw
himself on the floor and screamed at
the idea Of drinking warm milk. To
try to discipline sick child and handle
such fit of temper was real prob
lem, and even more than securing
obedience she was interested in get
ting him warm. Nohing but alter
nate commands and coaxing. had &C.
CURED to her when Uncle came to the
rescue. Dick had the profound inter-
est in automobiles which even the
tiny boy Of this generation seems to
have and his uncle took advantage of
this fact to calm and interest him.
"Dick," he said, taking the cup of
mix in one hand and Dickie's small
cold hand in the other, ~ want to try
a new kind of gas in my automobile
and see if it will go better
Dicks screams ceased suddenly as
his rage changed to interest. He al
lowed himself to be led into another
room and seated on the couch close
IN ~ In oc1y - l,rs,, Y,
the milk had a moment before filled
him with unaccountable wrath, but ii
he was an automobile and was bieng
given gasoline, that was entirely diff
ferent, and he slipped the milk and lis
tened with absorbed interest to Un-
cle's excited comments about the i'm
provement in the running of the "car"
on its new fuel.
Suddenly Uncle picked up a blanket
and threw it across the small boys
knees. "Why, Dick" he said, "you
ought to have radiator cover for this
sort of weather! Your engine will be
too cold to start" Not mummur of
protest followed, and a moment later
Uncle exclaimed in pretended distress,
"This battery is frozen. Well have to
thaw it out" and Dick obediently held
out his cold fingers to the register un-
til Uncle was satisfied that the "bat-
terry" was properly warmed.
=. Dick was an entirely oppeased, in
terested- and comfirtable child at the
end of half hour of this appeal to
his imagination, whereas the ordinary
treatment-orders, entreaties, and
perhaps even punishment would prob
ably have left him exhausted from
nervousness and tears.
OF course ordinary parents should
require prompt, direct obedience. But
there are also many difficult situations
such as the one described above when
the use of tact and an Introduction of
the imaginative play element will
work wonders and secure the result
the mother desires with the least
amount Of wear and tear on both her
self and the child.
To the Editor:
There are nearly 1000, 600 children
in our country who are not enjoying.
the advantages of Kindergarten train
ing, although it is the birthright Of
every child.
If there is no kindergarten in your
school, work to secure one. Leaflets
may be obtained from the National
Kindergarten Association, 8 West 4Oth
Street; New York City.
ARE MY CHILDREN
UNDERSTOOD BY ME-
By Anne Goodwin Williams, National
kindergarten and Elementary Col
lege.
0I inst love Miss Brown" said Betty