The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1920-06-22
HOME OCCUPATION FOR
OUR LITTLE CHILDREN
(By Alice wiugate Frary)

A woman who overheard her small
daughter discussing mothers with
her playmates was gratified to hear
her triumphantly conclude the ar
gument with the words, "Well, your
mother isn't such play mother as
minep Being "play mother" evil
IDENTIFY meant one who did not per-
NIT household duties to crowd ont
companionship with her children.
The "play mother" had not known
before how fully her efforts were
appreciated.
Grown people sometimes fail to
realize how children delight in their
companionship. Every mother should
employ care and insight as well as
love for her child when she selects
his occupations. Given an eager de-
sire to enter the child's world, he
will welcome her with countless sug-
gestions. 1t is often the mothers
privilege to modify these ideas, to
make quiet occupation more at
tractive than a noisy one, to offer
materials that are large and easily
handled when little fingers show any
signs of restlessness, or to direct ac-
tive games when repression becomes
unkind.
IF limited to the simplest of ma
terials with children, should choose
paper. Used with pencil, scissors and
paste, it has limitless possibilities,
and to adults who puzzle their way
through toy departments, I should
say, "When in doubt, buy paper"
Colored paper, cut in various sizes,
large, plain tablet, the child's I'M
disputed possession, the wrapping of
kodak film pack, or any colored
advertisement, will all be hailed with
joy. One four-year-old was made
happy for days with simple coffee
wrappers, bright colored and glazed.
The little child should have the OPP
portunity to experiment freely with
new material, expressing his own
ideas; he should also have sugges-
tons from the mother as he needs
them, and her appreciation of every
achievement. Child direction and
adult suggestion should be wisely
balanced in order that the child may
make the greatest progress.
For more active play, there are
games which can be carried on with
only little help while the mother is
busy. The simple hiding or guessing
games can be played by very young
children. One game which trains in
observation consists in playing diff
ferent common household objects.
such as a pencil, a thimble, spool,
scissors, etc., on tray, covering
them, then allowing the guesser a
brief glimpse, after which he is to
tell what he has seen. 1t is wiser to
begin with two or three objects, in
creasing the number with each turn.
Physical feats also fascinate the
children. recently saw a small girl
amuse herself for an hour walking
away from a full length mirror with a
block balanced on her head. Each
time it fell she marked the spot, then
began again at the mirror, watch
ing the block as she backed away.
The same little girl has her happiest
play times being tossed and swung
by her father, walking wheelbar-
row" and various improvised feats
being equally entertaining to both.
Why not substitute an extra fifteen
minutes of games or stories for the
more elaborate "treats" in offering
rewards? Is it not an ideal worth
striving for to be considered a good
''play father or mother?"
parantc NAV find tho follOwino