The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-11-23
EVERY CHILD HAS
RIGHT TO VOICE
IN PICKING TOYS
Teacher Gives Timely Sugges-
tons on Selection of Pres
entS Best Suited for Chill
dren of Every Age.
BY ELIZA CURTIS.

Every child has a right TO AT least
a few good toys. They are as essen
tial to child health as food, because
they build up and sustain the mind as
food does the body.
While 1t has frequently been dem
onstrated that parents will do with
out necessities rather than deprive
the children of toys, it is also a fact
that the proper selection of toys pre-
sents a problem to mothers whether
the gifts be intended for birthdays
Christmas or for other special days
A summary of answers to a ques-
tionnaire on toys recently sent to
persons who should know-including
kindergarteners, managers OF day
nurseries and children's hospitals
teachers and mothers provides some
interesting and helpful suggestions
which may tend to make the proper
selection of toys easier for mothers
and help to provide children of all
ages and both sexes with toys and
playthings which they will enjoy
more than those selected at haphaz-
ard and will also prove of greater
benefit to them in character building
and in the development of possible
latent physical and mental possibili-
ties.
A Toy for Every Age.
The consensus of opinion indicates
that manipulation" toys are best for
children between the ages of and 4;
dramatic" playthings best between
and 6. and constitution" play
things between the ages of 6 and
8, while from s years up, playthings
such as Juvenile wireless outfits
games or toys that teach the simpler
branches Of the exact sciences and
those which exercise and train the
hands and brain in a somewhat ad-
vanced way are best.
No set rule can be followed in the
proper selection of toys and play
things Careful study should be
given the age, sex, physical and men,
tai strength of the child; its trend in
character development and its apti-
tudes. Attention should be given as
to what the toy or plaything can do
beneficially for the child beyond
mere amusement or entertainment;
to what the child can do with the toy
and TO the channel of thought or of
action into which the toy selected
will lead the child because the influ-
ence of the toys and playthings of
children is a matter of very serious
consideration to the mother and also
i'm the proper development of the
child.
Do not give the child any toy which
on first thought only may appeal to
you as the toy which might please It
or which you think might do" Let
the child help you in your selection
if not personally. at least by sugges-
ton. The toy should interest the
child, appeal to its Imagination and
sense of beauty, and to its good taste
and love of originality.
Teach the child to love and care
for its toy, whether it be the little
girls pet doll or the small boys tool
chest Simple, durable toys of
which there is an almost endless va
riety-usually find the greatest favor |
with children of all ages.
IL you do not think that care is not |
necessary in the selection of toys,
just look in the spare room or almost
anywhere in the house, and notice
the toys discarded by the children
simply because they are not the right
toys for the right children. Then
think of the money that is wasted
every year in the purchase of the
wrong type of toys, and add to that a
of the fun and benefits
lost by the children through the same
cause, and you have an unanswerable
argument for careful selection.
Tots Like Simple Toys.
A little tot from one to two enjoys
little games that can be played with