The Washington times., 1928-10-05
N Ote d Authority
Gives Advice
to Parents
BY Constance Cameron

|MANY mothers, who are. con-
W1 scientiously trying to keep
abreast of the times in an educa.
tional way hear about the new
freedom the development OF
self-expression and interpret it as
freedom for the child to such an
extent that he may go right
ahead and indulge any whim
which comes to him. 1t is my
opinion, that this is not what is
meant nor what educators are adj
vocating. but freedom to- carry
out a definite aim, freedom to ex-
press an inclination to be busy
working or playing along Greet.
conscious line.
When a child decides he wants
to build bridge of blocks so that
his train may go over it, there is
obviously no direction needed. He
has an idea and he is working it
out. and greater growth will come
IL he is left alone to do so at his
viii. If, however, a child picks
up his train and shoots it across
the floor time and again, finally
smashing it into the wall, and
then beginning all over again.
It is time for a kindly suggestion.
He is playing without any
definite thought. without any pur-
pose, and this Is not constructive,
nor educational, nor even anus
ing to the child at last, and leads
into lawleSsness eventually Il
is then time to suggest that he
build station or bridge or a
tunnel with his blocks. or better
still, two villages of blocks. be-
tween which the train may rum
bearing papers dolls..-~or loads OF
freight.
A 4-year-old boy developed a
penchant for tearing through the
house and leapins over small rugs.
The longer he did it, the more it
developed into spirit of ICwdy-
ism, until his mother followed him
one day, saw a flying leap across
the hall, and said: What are you
playing. Arnold?" "Nothin.' re-
piled the little boy. I'm just
jumping" That's no. fun" an
swered the mother. Why don't
you play that the hall rug is a
brook and see II you can jump
over without getting wet" The
boys eyes lighted up. End he
eyed the width of the rug cal
culatingly. The mother proceeded
about her household routine. Sud
denly Arnold appeared before her
hands held gingerly out from his
sides. and a woe-begone expires
sion in his eyes. Mother, "-~i1e
said solemnly. What do you
think? j fell. in the brook. and
I'm sopping wet
Children won't. always grasp
with avidity any idea you present
to them. but if they at least
counter with suggestion, of their
own for an activity with a pur-
pose, you have achieved your
point.
There have been sundry criti-
cisms of this particular day and
age, and of our country, concern
ing the fact that we have too
much motion. thinking that it
is action. This may be partially
true and holds good with chill
dren. Don't think that just be-
cause your children are madly
running about that they are pro-
crossing. Activity without a pur-
pose. both for adults and chill
dren, is a moving. to be sure,
but a moving backward.
/ do not mean for a moment
that l would suggest asking
child at every move why are
you doing this?" or What do
you mean by .that?" but it is
easy by occasional "listenings-in''
to the prattle of playing children
TO discover whether they have an
objective in their play, or
whether they are merely squfrm.
ing. and moving and pushing
toys about as an outlet for ami
NAL energy.
II there seems to be no goal,
no motive in what they are do
ing, it is time for friendly sug-
gestion which will interest them.