The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-06-30
BY OLIVE ROBEETs BARTON

6x VkHVE MUBEkEIS BABVON
 Of ell the times fin the year, va- cation is the best for hobbies. If Oliver hasn't any, 1t is time for him to get one. If Peg has an itch, now is the opportunity to provide her with books or paraphernalla for cultivating 1t. Eustice is too lazy to know what he wants. Get him interested in something vital and watch him move.
 It has been said that children learn more out of school than in. I think this is true, but we have to put the means within reach.
 Work Becomes Play
 Throughout the year many chil- dren study things outside their natural bent and for which they have little taste. If given real encouragement and opportunity to pursue some favorite longing, their real ability frequently comes to the top. Interest plus purpose are parents to real achievement. Work moves over, then, to the play motive" side of the mind, and there you are.
 Oliver likes to go over to Don's, you may have noticed, because Don has chickens, or perhaps rabbits, or maybe some bugs in jars. He doesn't give a whoop for stamps, or gardens or rocks, Ollie doesn't. Something alive is different. Per- haps he just likes to lie and watch robins dig up worms; or knows where the plovern set is out in Uncle Mack's meadow; or remarks that one time he saw two swallows in one mud nest.
 start With Books
 The boy would stare # you mentioned @ hobby, however. Don't mention, 1t then. Get him Q book or two from the library; beginners books on butterflies, in- sects or birds (whichever you think might arouse him) and see what happens. Soon he may be looking for jars or ilets--or frames for bird pictures for his walls. Or perhaps laying in lumber to make @ chicken coop or bunny pen. You never can tell.
 Peg has five fingers on each hand, where making things is concerned. She wants to cook. Of perchance, she wants to sew. Perhaps she yearns for bright yarn. She likes to work out her ideas on clothes, and what is still better, finish to the bitter end whatever she sets about doing. Very well, then. You could do worse than to invest in the right, things for her to work with. And, if you can spare the time as well as the dime, help to cach her, too. Whatever her robby, do try to let her work out her ideas.
 Now comes Lazybones. He doesn't like to do anything. He just tootles on a piece of grass or the rusty harmonica he hauled out of the old play.box. What on earth can you get him interested inp He's death on the radio but he hasn't any flair for music.
 May Surprise You
 But hark. He admires MT. Dean, the orchestra leader. Is MT. Dean still ct home? Isn't he giving lessons through the sum- mer? You think you'll call him upP Splendid. Eustice may sur- prise you.
 Books are an everlasting source of joy to growing children. Mix them up. Don't make out lists of all-science, all-travel, or all.anything. And don't frown on adventure or mystery. Growing children crave the vicarious excitement of such books. They are needed in the general vltamin diet.
 Work, play, exercise and im- provement can fill vacation days comfortably if the mother plans ahead. Interest should be the keynote; suggestion the theme. Budgeting time and promptness are lessons to be learned. Vaca- ton time is what we make 1t. It won't work for us but against us, unless we plan, provide and con- trol. And in the end we'll find, think, we've had a much better time than we had thought pos- sible.
 THE END.
 Copyright l036, NEA Service, Incl