Evening star., 1937-11-24
Make>Believe
Excellent
For Child
Freedom From This
Grown.Up World
Is Necessary.
By ANGELO PATRI.

MAKING believe is an old favorite
with children. They play it in
order to find relief from the grown-up
world of actuality which is beyond
their understanding and at times gets
past all bearing. An escape to the
world of make-believe offers them
relief and rest and JOY. That relief
should be provided for them in home
and in the school.
The house that has an attic or a
playroom is paradise for children.
They can keep their collection of odds
and ends that are TO be used in making
| believe in chests. boxes or on hooks and
shelves quite out of the way of the
practical adults whose fanatic desire
| for clearing away old things often
leaves children desolate. Old things
ought always to be offered to children
before they go to the waste man
What seems just rag to you may seem
to be a coronation robe to the child
in his make-believe world. Let him
have his symbols because he needs
| them
In many ways this make-believe
game can be used to develop the tall
ents, or the weaknesses of children
Putting on play is fine bit of
training and experience for older
children. Taking part in play is
always highly profitable experience
for the young actor. Parts should be
| lictr tod 1yrifh fo hnir
on the actors. What child makes
believe he is he is for that time If
he keeps on assuming character it
is very likely to cling to him. Hence
the necessity for care in such assign
ments
Dramatic expression is an essential
value in child's education, any child's
education This does not mean that
we are trying to teach all children to
be actors. We could not do that if
we wanted to, and we do not want to-
What we want to do is to allow the
child to place himself in new atti-
tude toward life and experiences, to
allow him to express the emotions
and feelings and to exhibit the be-
havior that he feels is pressing for
expression. Usually these expressions
are allied with beauty. Occasionally
they are unlovely. Let them out in
either case and the child will be the
better for it.
We have trouble sometimes with
children who make believe things are
true, actual, in everyday practice when
they are far from that. Telling them
not to tell lies does not seem to help
in the least. Allowing them to write
and act play that uses these dreams,
hopes and longings seems to help a
great deal. The pressure has been
lifted in giving expression to the
dramatic instinct that was urging the
child to action. The most truthful
of children need to make believe now
and then, and this is one good way Of
allowing them the release while pre-
serving their truthfulness.
When a little child comes to YOU
with story freshly minted from his
imagination, instead of warning him
against being liar ask him, "Is that
suppose story? It's fine. Suppose an
other one. Then I'll try to do one.
| ACS STedI 1uH. Wnen an OlQer one
seems to find deviation from strict
facts useful, or when he colors facts
with imagination, or when he does
some seemingly outrageous thing for
apparently no good reason, try placing
him in play; try giving the dramatic
instinct a chance. 1t is a safeguard,
an outlet a way to truth and beauty.
1t leads out of the land of make-believe
into the actual day.
Mr.. Patri will give personal attention
to inquiries from parents and school
teachers on the care and development
of children. Write him in care of this
paper, inclosing Scent stamped self
addressed envelope for reply.
Copyright, 1877