The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-12-09
BY ALLAN ROY DAFOE
M. ID. @. R. T..

Copyright, 1885, NEA Service, Incl
Callander, Ont, Dec. 9-Much OF
the gums present program Is direc-
ted toward teaching them to take
care Of themselves.
There Is no intention to make
them into little ladies'" waited
on hand and foot, for that Is not
proper training for life. In every
possible way, the children are
taught to look to their own wants,
and to assume duties and reSpon-
sibilities.
For instance, they are rapidly
getting the knack Of washing them-
selves, combing their own hair, and
hanging up their own combs and
towels in the appointed places
when finished.
This presented something Of a
problem. Since the little girls do
not read, marking their special
places for hanging utensils was
not so easy.
Then we hit on plan which
has worked quite well. Above the
hooks and closet shelves reserved
for each girl we placed a symbol,
easily identifiable. For Yvonne, a
bird; for Annette, maple leaf;
Ceeile, a turkey; Emile, tulip,
and Marie, dog.
KNOW THEIR SYMBOLS
Now, though they would not
have been able to read their
names, they readily identify the
symbols, and place their things
where they belong, after using
them.
In the shoe closet adjoining the
bathroom, we insist on the same
kind of orderliness, with all the
shoes Of one type placed neatly In
a row on their own shelf. Over the
five little compartment clothes
closets adjoining the nursery, the
same symbols have been placed.
This same orderliness Is sought,
and this same sense Of response
bility, in the requirement that toys
for outdoor play be taken from
their storehouse by the girls when
they begin their outdoor play
hour, and replaced carefully when
the period Is over.
The growing comprehension OF
the gums Is well illustrated at
table, where they serve them
selves from a side-table to which
their food Is delivered through a
half door leading t. o the pantry
and kitchen.
But If something runs short at
table, and the nurse says Gin
French, of course) Annette, go
over and get some more milk, If
you please" the child addressed
does so without hesitation.
HELP IN DAILY ROUTINE
1t Is quite clear that they under
stand perfectly any simple in
structions given them, or stories
told them, and their education IN
helpfulness is already beginning
to bear fruit.
Their growing understanding
and their ability and Willingness
to help simplifies greatly the daily
routine. The children now go to
bed at Z, and almost always drop
off to sleep Immediately.
A nurse always sleeps with
them, but she Is awakened only
rarely, when one Of the children
raises the cry familiar to all par
ents OF II want drink"
But by $50 a. m. one or another
of the little girls Is clamoring for
action, awakening the nurse, who
gets the chill off the room before
the children get up TO dress. a..
Each now gets her codliver oil
and orange juice, which has be-
come Just routine, SO firmly Is
the habit impressed on the chill
dren. They have taken this bene-
ficial artificial sunlight" from
their earliest days, and to them 1t
clearly does not taste bad.
ENJOY THEIR BATH
The children then play In their
playroom while the nurses break
fast at 7, easily keeping an eye
on the children through the
French doors. At 1880 the quins
get their first bath. The bathroom.
q large, light room, opens off their
sleeping room. There Is one large
tub In the center and the children
still use 1t two at time In vary
ing order.
They run about and enjoy them
selves just like little animals. and
then dress in their day clothing,
silk dresses or the like.
At 8 they have their break
fast in a room leading directly off