The Washington times., 1928-09-14
Recreation Aids
Your Child's
Education
BY Constance Cameron


" w the education of our chill
dren, ambitions concerning the
sciences, literature. music, charac'
ter and poise. Yet. so many times
We make a definite line of demar-
cation between education and play
We say to ourselves. Now Mary
r. learning" or Now Mary is
playing" whereas the two are SO
bound up that we can at no point
decide where play, in the sense OF
recreation, stops, and education
begins.
; The mother who watches her
child from babyhood, backed up
with a knowledge of why her baby
does certain things, has an excel
lent foundation for seeing her
dreams, for growth and progress
of the child materialize before her
eyes in an easy, happy fashion.
We have all seen a baby hufl
spoons to the floor, and most motn-
ers sigh, under the sneaking I'M
preston that this is but one more
trial to burden their weary day.
How few realize that this Is baby's
first taste of power. this making
q noise by his own efforts, MS
own willing to do so.
Few babies grow to chlldhooo
without experiencing the delight
full game of ''peek-a-boo, when
mother puts a handkerchief over
her face, only to snatch IT away
with the familiar words. Have we
all stopped to think why this de'
lights the infant and why he wants
us to do 1t over and over again!
Primarily it proves to him a point
in unity. Mother disappears, but
mother returns. The circle Is
rounded out again. Home is as 1t
was before. There is great delight
when the loved face appears be.
fore the tiny eyes, the thrill oil
suspense when it fades from view.
This is the same fascination
which centers around a ball.
This toy rolls away, under
chair or a table. and the wee
child creeps after it, Growing hap
PLY when he finds that 1t is
again in his possession.
makes no difference whether we
are cognizant of the reasons why
q baby does certain things or en-
joys certain games; that ne does
them and accolnplishes his CROWN
anyway. However. aimless play
il as demoralizing to a child as
an aimless day is to us. We feel
better when we have set our
selves certain tasks and COM
pleted them. and during a large
part of the childs play activities
II is wise to direct his attentions
and build toward certain con-
structive ends.
The average mother. either in
wardly or outwardly. rebels when
her small daughter invites her
TO come to her play corner to
have tea" with her. 1t takes so
much time. and the child is only
playing" anyway. Why stop work
when the child can be taught to
NAV alone? But the child who
is made to play ''house" alone
will very probably develop into
en- unsociable adult who grum-
bles when company comes. and
who would rather have room
TO himself than share the social
activities of a family. Playing
house is not only going through
the motions of routine daily life.
TO a child it is primarily the ex.
preston of the instinct OF self
preservation. dealing with shelter,
creature comforts and food.
When your child. either girl or
nov breaks a cracker and sips
water from a teacup with you as
his guest. he is not merely eating;
ne is learning good fellowship and
entering upon a very close per
eonaI relationship with you. The
friend who is nearest and best
loved by us comes into our
kitchen or breaks bread with us
over our dining table. The one to
whom we are Indifferent never
gets betyond the formality OF the
hall and the living room.
The mother who has dreams OF
teaching her daughter. when she
is older, to be a gracious hostess,
a delightful friend. makes a de.
cided mistake in waiting until a
specified time to begin these les.
sons. The psychological moment
IA when her tiny daughter wants
TO play house" with her; To
discuss new gown for her
dolly. or to ask for a good recipe
for mud and clover cakes. Play
Il is. to be sure, but all play is
an education, particularly when
directed by wise adult.
Prof. Gulick's philosophy of
Play" is a book which you will
enjoy and profit by reading. You
will NOT only discover why Vour
child does certain things but OBJ
tain instructing sidelights on you.
own behavior.