Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-09-26
FRANCES COLBOURNE
On Day Nurseries Work for the Home

On Day Nurseries WORK IOr the Home
THE chief object of the day nursery is to
l. make It possible for the mother who is
obliged to 60 out to work to be able to keep
her children under the influence OF the home,
saws Miss Frances COlbOurne, executive Sec
retary Of the Philadelphia Association OF
Day Nurseries.
"The day nursery said Miss Colbourne.
sis place where mothers who are obliged
to work to support themselves and thelr
children may leave the children during the
working hours Of the day. The original day
nursery was in charge of q kindly woman
who accepted any children that might he
brought TO her. The only idea at that time
was to supply the little ones with place
in which they would find shelter, light, food
and warmth. but there was then no special
standard either Of receiving or Of treatment.
'But the modern day nursery has gone
n tremendous way from the old conception.
Now n trained visitor visits all the homes
of the children who are brought 10 the
nursery. finds out the conditions existing
there and talks them over with the mother.
The older idea was that the more children
there we're in the nursery the better, but the
modern one is that 1t is infinitely better to
keep the children in their own homes wher-
ever possible.
Selecting the Children
1.-THE properly conducted day nursery now
will take only children who cannot be prop
erly cared for in their own homes. The
largest number of mothers who bring their
children to the nurseries are those deserted
by their husbands, and the second largest
class are the widows. Each cas-" is investi
gated and II il be possible to have the child
kent at home and cared for by some relatives,
this is done as it is considered so much
better for the welfare of the child.
"The modern day nursery also does not
take very small children. as these are
good bit better cared for in the home than
thcy could possibly be in nursery. But
the nursery is not satisfied simply to say
that il cannot take the child; II holds itself
responsible to see that the needs OF the child
are met, and Financial relief is needed it
is raised from some source for the mother.
'rhe mother is furthermore put IN touch
with some institution where the child may
be properly cared for.
There are four great causes by which
the services Of the day nursery are required.
;rhe first and most prolif. Of these is the
descrtion of the mother by the father; the
second. the death Of the father, thereby
throwing the burden Of support upon the
mother the third. the unemployment of the
father. making it incumbent upon the mother
70 90 out to work, and the fourth, the ILL.,
ness Of one parent or the other.
Children Examined Physically
"Wheu it has been decided that it is
necessary for the mother to go to work for
the support of the family. the next thing is
,ho nhysical examination of the child by a
nbvsician. In the old days the day nursery
was satisfied with almost any kind of GER
t;Hcote. but this Is no longer the case. Now
the physician gives a complete examination
and finds out definitely whether or not there
"a ANYTHING the matter with the child.
III he decides that treatments are re-
m,red the day nursery visitor sees to it
that the treatments as prescribed are carried
out either in a hospital or in clinic. and
where it 10 required arranges for operations
With the consent of the parent.
1.-THE medical agencies employed in the
day nursery are doing Il great work for the
child Of pre- school age, and this work pre-
sents fine opportunity to do prevention
work, especially in the matter Of nutrition
.'rhe range Of the ages OF the children
accented in the modern day nursery Is from
nine months to twelve or thirteen years
New children of more than nine years Of
age are not taken, because they do not
adapt themselves well to the routine Of the
day nursery but if they have been coming
to the nursery before that age they are
allowed TO continue.
The Hours Observed
"The older children, that is from six years
of age and beyond. come in the morning
before going to school. Then they come
back for their midday meal, after which
they return to the school for the afternoon
session. After this closes they come back
IN the nursery and remain until the mother