The Delta independent., 1922-02-03
PARENTS AS EDUCATORS
(By Ellen Creelman)

1.-THE child's first school is the fam
ily."-Froebel.
The child instinctively attempts to
develop his mind through contact with
his environment. He wishes to gain
knowledge of it, to come into sympa-
thetic relation with it, and to fulfill
part in 1t.
Toys and play-materials offer him
one means of expression. The child's
imagination is very keen, consequent
ly his toys should be wisely selected.
They should be simple and very dur
able. There should be dolls, doll fur
niture, balls; carts, boats, wagons and
other toys which may be useful to
him.
"The too finished toy chills the i'm
agination," and the child frequently is
seen to find more enjoyment with
crude toy of his own construction.
The little girl will turn from an elab-
orately dressed doll to lavish caresses
on rag doll. One child turned from
large number of valuable Christmas
presents to play with his fathers boot
jack. A little girl given beautiful
doll by her uncle, laid it down and
spent the remainder Of the day using
the box in which it came for boat.
Later she thanked her uncle for the
beautiful boat he had sent to her.
When the child can use play-mater-
ials, he should be given blocks. boards,
beads, clay, paper, scissors and cray
ons, also miscellaneous articles from
which he may choose.
When the child may safely be left
alone in the nursery or out of doors,
he should be free from the continuous
presence Of an adult. He realizes
greater satisfaction If thrown upon his
own resources. The child's power Of
concentration is weak and many par
ents, instead of sitting quietly by, d.
rest the child by continuous remarks
about what he il doing. Parents and
others may. express sympathetic in
terest when the child appeals to them.
may play with him, but not for him.
Self-effort IL the law Of progress. The
child's ideas are vague. his facility Of
expression crude, but he 10 satisfied
with the results he realizes as he out
grows this stage, unless someone in
variably destroys his satisfaction by,
for instance, building or modelling for
him a more perfect form than his To
lose keen delight through his own
efforts is an irreparable loss to him.
Order is natural need Of everyone,
even in childhood. The child, II not
carefully guided, Acquires habits Of
disorderliness. He frequently hnds
himself surrounded by mass Of play
things in an untidy room. His mind
becomes tired and confused, and he
turns away indifferently without hav-
ing realized his desires.
Granted children an attractive nur-
sery, no matter how simple, with suit
able, but not necessarily an expensive
equipment, few rules necessary for
the happiness of all must be enforced.
There must be no infringing upon
the rights of others. Individual toys
must not be appropriated without per-
mission of the owner. There must be
no unnecessary distribution Of toys
and play materials, but degree Of
orderliness during the day. and all
toys must be put into their places at
night by the children. II these rules
are enforced. interest in play. appreci-
alton of confidence. gratitude for their
privileges and good will towards one
another may be expected. Without
this result the desired progress is i'm
possible.