The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1938-06-23
Neighboring With Little
Children
M. LOUISE C.. HASTINGS

Neighboring is getting to be a lost
art in city life. Today we live in a
few rooms in some huge apartment
house, and seldom do we know our
next-door neighbor. This has an un-
fortunate effect upon our children.
Country life offers opportunities to
drop inn, to do little things for
others; there we have certain implied
obligations that are delightful. Com
munity life in the suburbs of large
cities also offers ways of being friend
ly. But why can't we who live in
apartments do something to bring into
our children's lives the spirit Of an
ideal country village where neighbor-
ing is a lovely thing that keeps the
heart glowing?
Gardens help in their season. If
there is no ground to spare outside,
then inside, or if there is no sunshine
inside, then perhaps room for at least
small box can be found on the roof.
In any case a basket of fresh growing
pansies may be bought, picked by the
children and shared with their friends.
If there is room Friendship garden"
out of which come flowers and vege-
tables, not to be used at home but to
be given to acquaintances, is an un-
failing help to neighboring.
Another, is to let the children as
sist in making cookies. 1t is such fun
for them to give some to the mail car
rier, to take a bag to the traffic po-
| lceman at the corner and to pack a
tin box for Father to take to his Of
flee and pass around to his associates.
l recall mother who said in my
hearing, each month we are going to
remember somebody's birthday" AS
the family was small, this means in
cluding neighbors. Sometimes in May
the children made several May Day
baskets for shut-ins. At Thanksgiving
they expected to share their good
things with persons less fortunate
Christmas always meant doing little
things for others besides the family
1t was genuine pleasure for them to
make their own valentines and SEND
them off to distant relatives and near
by acquaintances.
Letters are always delightful, ever
though the ones who receive them may
live in the next apartment. Wher
people are obliged to remain at home
the ring of the postman is always al
event, whether they are five years ole
or seventy-five.
The telephone is another means o1
conveying happy greetings. "Shall
call Mrs. Rice and wish her happy
day." | once heard a little child wht
was enjoying the art of telephonine
say to her mother. How much oftenel
this might be done if we only realized
the joy it would bring.
Often on New Years Day at oul
home we call up friends of all age'
and wish them Happy New Year
When children see and hear their par
ents doing things of this kind, the!
usually wish to do the same, and so i
becomes a character-building projec
without any planning. 1t has Ions
been our custom to prepare list ever!
month of those we think would b'
made happier by hearing from us. Ou
little girls see to it that at least :
card or telephone message is sent t.
each one on the list.
"Bobby's aunt is getting we'll, ant
Pm going to send her card and tel
her Pm glad" announced a little bo!
one day. "But do you know her." hi
mother asked. "No, but Bobby does,
was the quick reply, and he sent tn
card.