The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-10-09


curIs which framed two pink /
a final pat. a final glance. and
the comb was returned to its hook,
and Miss America faced us. surely.
confidently. and, with d poise which
was enviable. seated herself for
luncheon.
No, the locale was not dressing
room of smart hotel. No haunt
ing music lured her to the dining
room. 1t was all in the days work
at the Child Research Center-and
I almost forgot to tell you that Miss
America has been in this world just
a little over two years.
"Ridiculousp you exclaim. She Is
only a baby Only q baby. yes, as
far az candor and charm and cum
self sufficient individual in that she
has been allowed, at this admirable
institution, to set her viii free to
develop her capabilities and person
atty.
A Character Clinic
The Child Research Clinic is first
and foremost an organization de-
voted to the study of children. A
nursery school. in the capable hands
of Miss Christine Heinig. is main
tanned for the purpose of observing
the reactions of normal children to
situations which they would be likely
to meet in the course of a day at
home.
A clinic under the supervision of
DR.. Mandel Sherman, concerns
mt m
problems of behavior, which seems
so serious to us who do not under
stand them fully.
The idea used to be, that If we
got our children through the first
five years of their lives with
minimum of bumps and childish dis
eases, we had done our part. 1t
was then the responsibility of the
schools to mold them into compe-
tent and interesting human beings
with an ability to comprehend and
acquire habits which would make
them acceptable to society.
We are learning that the first
three years of a child's life are
most important and that it is during
this period. that habits can be land
are) formed, which will play a
major part in adult life.
Chains Of BabyhOod
It is in the desire to learn more
about the habit-forming period. in
the desire to help children to build
constructive habits and acquire
positive rather than negative re-
sponses to situations. that the Re-
search Center observes the nursery
class of 90 small children. and
stands with open hands ready to
give parents the fruits of it's ex-
perienceS.
We bind children with the chains
of so-called "babyhood" because we
are afraid to let them try to be
self-reliant individuals. We carry
a. spoonful of food to the small
mouth; we button the tiny coat, we
pour milk from a pitcher into a
glass, all under the delusion that
our child is still baby and there
fore cannot perform these little
duties himself.
The Child Research Center has
i'm it's nursery group children from
ia to 31a years. These children
walk unaided up an ingenious de-
vice called q "balance board" the
board has, at intervals, blocks OF
wood fastened securely and covered
with non-slip rubber mats. Wnat
thrill to be able to walk up TINS
incline, with perfect balance. It
can be done. and after only re"
trials. because there is no trembilnS
mother standing by to say: be
careful, Janet. You'll fall"
A crate. such as beds are put into
for shipment, takes care of the
urge to climb In Snd out and over
objects. There no reason why
sweFy backyard daanot have one Of