Evening star., 1924-08-31

some of the following: swings, a
horizontal bar. which is useful in
maintaining good posture; low nyins
rings: = see-saw and slide; a hori-
zontai ladder, which strengthens mus
cles In climbing. A pet.house for a
rabbit or dog and a playhouse with
sides open for supervision are also
recommended.
The Children's Bureau points out
that II child Is to play construc-
lively he must have some materials.
These may not be expensive, but they
should have possibilities for useful
ness from the ehild'a point Of view,
A list Of standard playthinKs suE-
Kested by the bureau is as follows
sand. tools. engines and cars, wagons,
picture books. toy furniture. tub and
washboard. smooth sticks and dishes,
blocks. carts, coasters, pictures, soft
house. gas bouncing balls, paints,
small garden tools, scissors, cradles
and beds. brushes and jump ropes.
Community Playground.
The backyard playground idea
would appear to be strictly an indi-
vtdual project. but it 10 being worked
out in crowded sections OF some cities
on . cooperative basis. The back
yards Of town block are often tiny,
and space is very much needed for
clothes lines. Even in such districts,
however. residents have agreed to
throw together sections Of their back
yards and to make . playground for
of project 10 possible only when
neighbors voluntarily cooperate. In
some instances the center part Of the
block, once dingy and ill-kept, now
contains not only q playground for
younger children, but also courts for
athletes, flooring for dancing and
benches. where the residents of the
block can sit in the evenings. These
back yards are really community CEN
ters for all ages.
In New York City an organization
has taken charge Of the work Of es-
tablishinE and maintaining block
playgrounds In poorer sections Of the
city. More than ESQ children attend
tera. A caYetaker 10 in charge. sum
mer and Winter. and an indoor room
as well ~ the outdoor space il set
aside by the block residents for rec
reation purposes.
Another plan has been tried out in
Knoxville, Tenn. There were not
enough municipal Fairgrounds to
meet the needs OF tho children the
city found, 50 committees were ap-
pointed TO arrange for one backyard
playground to each city block. Cou-
and property owners who wore willing
to lend their yards had only to sign
and mail the coupon.
The national conference on outdoor
recreation. which Was called by Presi-
dent Coolidge this Summer, stressed
the signal importance Of play to the
individual Of every age. The ten
dency now Is to regard play as . need
Of every human being. but 1t Is still
held to be of most importance to the
child.
Miss Ethel Perrin Of the American
Child Health Association has chart
building made by play. She told the
conference:
There are no less than 50 deair-
able attributes, including social,
physical, mental and emotional good
character traits Whioh may be in
huenced or developed through play
and exercise. The social attributes
In this list include a1EressiveRsss.
ambition. co-opeIatoin, courage.
oourtesy. deoisioR. honesty. leader
ship. loyalty. perseverance, and play
apirit. The physical characteristics
comprise ability to escApe danger,
ability to relax. endurance, Aexibility.
motor control, vigor. etc. The men
tai qualities are ability to make
quick and accurate judGments, ahil-
ity to respond to commando definite
goal OF attainment. Imagination. in
dividuality, incentive for phyeical
efficiency. resouroefulneas. etc. And
In the emotional realm can be listed
ountPoi Of temper. enthusiasm. pleas
ufe In achievement. etc.
She added thst no one kind Of play
contributes to the building Of every
ana az these desirable attributes.
but that every type az physical aa-
tivity hslps to develep more than one
az TIA ApalitiHR 1ANaA