The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-01-25
LITTLE
CITIZENS
This is one OF series Of articles
issued by the National Kinder
garten Association, s w. 10th
St., New York city.
KEEP TRYING.
BY Harriet ~. Heller.

KEEP TRYING.
BY Harriet ". Heller.
when first the child begins to initiate,
DO not the little effort under-rate.
DO thou the same, it will the more
delight him
And ever to renewed attempts invite
him"
The way lay through q CHEEKY part
of the city, down a long hill. Grass
plots and flower beds bordered the
path and sometimes little children
played among them.
The sunlight flashed an arrow OF
gold down the incline, and I could
see a child alone. sitting upon the
pavement Apparently he was most
intent. His hands were busy and his
sunny head bent close over his under
taking.
As soon as I approached he seemed
to realize my presence. though he was
too busy to look up until I was quite
close up to him. He was very small,
brown eyed, and very winsone.
His hand grasped a piece of crayon,
and as his eyes critically surveyed his
dra wing on the walk, he said. includ-
ing me now within his glance.
i've made another kind of an s."
$50 you have" 1 replied, but the
questioning look in his eyes made me
inquire.
what troubles your"
'Its-it's another kind" he replied
uneasily. Before him was a well
drawn letter rs" about a foot high,
executed with the swinging stroke of
a strong and skillful arm; beside it
his own imitation of the first half Of
the letter. He saw the difficult curve
to the left, but he could not make it,
so turned to me for help.
shall I finish it - I asked.
With a sigh of relief he yielded the
crayon.
who made this one for your"
"a man." he answered. Evidently
he was acquiring his instruction as
the opportunity permitted.
"Ihere!" he cried with satisfaction
when 1 made the required stroke.
There it Isl"
low old are your" ventured, for
he looked too little to be concerned
with difficult curves.
Most three. think" he said.
Later I learned from his proud lit
tie mother that he knew nearly all
of his letters" and that he had learned
the letter rs" soon AFTER he was two
years old.
An unusual child? Yes, but with
greater possibilities come graver re-
sponsibilities.
Parents sometimes fail to realize
that the young child needs widely va
ried activity and constant direction to
awaken and broaden his interest.
rather than the oNrer-stimulation
which induces him to Ego far" with
some one kind of play.
Ths ordinary interests of a three
year old boy lead him to convert the
dining room chairs into horses. or
the sofa into an automobile. He first
takes an interest in things that move.
then in things that make a noise. by
initiating in his play the life about
him, child unconsciously develops
some understanding of it; then when
one phase OF activity ceases to inter-
est hun, he turns to another to play"
that while his interest lasts.
The young child is tremendously
alert, vital experimenting at life
first hand; living! For most of them
experience must be the great educa-
tional factor. Froebel appreciated
this fact and chose the wind mill
with its attractive motion as a symbol
of the child's experimental interest.
The wise parent always avoids ex-
tremes with even the most unusual
three year-o old; but has care for his
normal development, since that is the
most urgent need for little folks.
Encourage the experiments of child
rem. but never force them; let them
keep trying.
Ths National Kindergarten Associa-
ton is conducting a series of child
ren's matinees with the cooperation
OF The National Juvenile Motion Pic
ture League.
Those interested in better pictures
for children may obtain ell particulars
by addressing the league at 3s1 Fourth
Ave, New York City