The Lubbock avalanche. (Lubbock, Tex.) 1909-1922, 1922-02-07
PARENTS AS EDUCATORS
Lesson, in Mother Nature,
kindergarten
BY Mary Francis Davis

One ~ the greatest privileges
which n mother can enjoy Il awak.
ening and developing n love ~ ma
ture In her children This can be
done by deyoting n small amount u
time each day 10 the concentrated
observation Of flowers, trees, birds,
clouds, snow and other beautiful Of
fcrings 81 nature. Mother Nature
herself will outline the yearly pro-
gram 90 be followed
During the winter months. when
much time IN spent indoors, the
hours may be improved by telling
stories Of animals, birds, ants. and
bees, and showing pictures of these
useful friends. There are many in.
icrcsiing things 90 be seen outdoors
on winter walks II u easy then,
when trees are bare. Tor children 10
learn 10 recognize them by their
barks This j. q good time 20 dis
cover and examine nests which The
birds deserted when Jack Frost told
them 90 fly 10 the warm Southland.
When snow comes, catch some hard
dry flakes on n slate, and let the
children examine the beautiful crys-
tails Speak 81 the snow az a soft,
white blanket covering the tiny
seeds which are down IN the ground,
waiting 20 grow.
Then comes Spring with her help
crs, the March winds, the April
showers, and the warm sunshine.
The children can be outdoors more
at this time, and love 10 romp with
the strong March wind, which Is
sweeping and blowing the dead
leaves about. Watch for the first
wee green shoots ms they peep
through the ground, followed soon
by crocuscs. daffodils, bloodroot and
the tiny woods flowers. II Is o.
great JOY 20 be able 20 take chill
dren for walks IN the woods az this
season, bat the little city boys and
girls need not be denied the fun Of
seeing the little seeds awake. Try
this interesting experiment.
Give each child a sponge, and
have him mOistcn u and place Il In
r saucer IN sunny window. Then
sprinkle u full Of ordinary mixed
grass seed or, n you keep canary,
and have aird seed, use that. DO
not tel the child what vii happen,
but lei him watch Tor the changes
that viii come. Bring pussy willow
stalks, and branches from other
bushes into warm, sunny room,
and observe the budding Of the
flowers and leaves.
Lead your little children 10 think
Of the April rains AZ kind helpers,
and repeat 10 them Come listen 20
the pittcr patter Of the April show
cre" In these verses We have the
thought Of the April showers bring
ing out the sweet May flowers
As the Spring and Summer birds
and flowers come. tell the children
their correct names. II Is a splendid
plan 20 collect pictures 81 familiar
birds and flowers. and paste them
In scrap-books on rainy Summer
days. These books will help the
friends when Jack Frost and Win
children 20 remember their Summer
ter come again.
As Autumn comes on, notice the
party dresses Of gold and red which
the leaves put on, and watch the
flowers change. Many seeds are fall
ing from the flowers and trees 10
the ground.
Then the Autumn leaves flutter
down and warmly cover the little
seeds, which are ready for o long
sleep, after their happy summer.
Notice that mos Of the birds have
gone, the squirrels have finished
gathering their nuts, and are stay