Evening star., 1923-12-28

is never too early to begin train
ing children to look after their
J own and other peoples posses
sions, but trying to teach house.
work to a child is dlscouraging work
for q mother and is a dull pastime
for child, unless it is done in the
right way
One mother has tactfully taught
her little girls to help her in many
ways. There is wooden shed in
her garden which she gave over TO
the children, but any small bedroom
or attic would Serve the same pur-
pose, if not too dark or without air.
A search for odds and ends around
of furniture being consigned to the
shed. Old curtains were cut and made
over into small curtains for the win
dows. the little girls doing the hem
ming. A strip of old stair carpet
was found for the floor, and a small,
four-legged table looked very attrac-
tive, covered with iowered cretonne
cloth. Their older brother made and
put up two wooden shelves and also
made wooden frames for some gayly
colored picture posters to ornament
the walls of the hut. On the shelves
the children displayed various odd
cups, saucers and plates, each piece
proclaiming itself to be the sole sur
ylVor of former luncheon or break
fast set
Dorothy acts as hostess, while Jane
acts as waitress. bringing a tray from
the kitchen, which has been filled
with good things by mother 1t is
also Jana's duty as the maid to dust
sweep and polish. and wash dishes
after Dorothy and her friends have
finished luncheon.
The next day the positions are re-
versed. Dorothy acts as maid and
Jane entertains. lSchoolmates are in
vited to luncheon and housework,"
and sometimes when new busters and
tablecloths are needed they form
sewing party. They prefer the quiet
surroundings in the hut for prepar-
ing school lessons and for reading.
This form of play teaches the chill
dren system and orderliness as well.
Teaching Coed Taste.
BILLY, do you like these two colors
together? Don't you think that pic
ture is beautiful? What part did you
like best in the story 1 read to you
today?"
BY constantly calling child's at
tention to the beautiful, by appealing
for, his opinion on this or that, by
inviting his criticism and giving it
serious consideration a mother can
draw her child on to express his own
ideas, to form his own tastes.
Beautiful melodies. lovely coIoring,
scenery, fairy stories, poems. inter
esting people and animals, when
pointed out by a parent, can draw a
child's mind gradually on to self-ex-
preston. Far too little attention is
given to this development. A guiding
hand is necessary to lead a child to
express. himself if he is to possess
an Intelligent appreciation of the
beautiful as he grows older
Children Who are Lonely
Those rare beings who retain a
vivid recollection OF their feelings as
children recall the terrible loneliness
that they sometimes experienced.
With some children the thought of
being alone is a frightfu1 ordeal
They are not yet old enough to realize
that they possess minds and are
therefore not separated from the
minds of those they love. All they
can understand is that they are shut
away from the life downstairs in
sitting room.
No, I can't come up and sit with
you. | must stay down stairs with
daddy" called mother to her child
The angels are taking care of you"
Cant daddy come upstairs with
the kangels and let me come down and
sit with you7" implored the baby.
a two-year-old child had been
calling repeatedly for mamma. who
at last said: IF I come up again, l
shall smack you"
ma ack Baby" was the instant reply