Evening star., 1938-06-06
Child's Play
Is Serious
Business
A Natural Activity
Of ~ World in
Which He Lives.
BY ANGELO PATRI.

pIAY is fundamental to a child's
growth. People often smile at
his play They think it's a trifiing
matter. That is a mistake A chlld's
play is serious business. 1t is the nat
ural activity of the world III which
he lives. and it expresses his feeling
toward that world. 1t is an instructive
way OF gathering experiences. Our
part in the scheme is to guide and
direct that instinct so that the child
gets the best of values out of l..
A baoy's first plsything is his own
body. First he finds his hands. He
studies his fingers and amuses him
self with them for minutes at time
Then he discovers his big zoe and
tries to find out what it is good for
end puts it into his mouth. That
mouth is bureau of information.
The baby refers everything to il.
After a while he begins to reach for
things. He can grasp rattle and
shake It, That's the time q rattle
should be tied to his CRIB so he can
get it whenever he feels lie wants it.
BY and by other things can be tied to
his crib for his amusement. A ball,
rubber animal. pretty-sounding bell.
Tie them so that when he tosses them
overheard they will not fail 20 the
floor. That keeps them cleaner and
saves mothers back and mothers
time.
Toys for infants ought to be wash
able. The paint should not come off.
They should be safe, for sooner or
later they all find themselves popped
into the baby'S mouth. l would keep
woolly animals out of the baby's
reach. They are likely to get dirty and
stay that way. We have to &c particu-
lar about the cleanliness Of every
thing the baby handles.
The little ones in their cribs like
to stretch their legs and kick lot
ing effective the child leeds resist
ace. SO fasten basket ball, any hall
we'll blown up answers the purpose, to
the foot of his crib and let him kick
and push against it.
Then, too, the baby likes to pound
things. to bang them hard. That's
as it should be. He needs to MAKE
: noise. A little wooden mal,eC and a
block on which to beat it, tin pan
and a spoon will give hin endless de-
light. Select the sort that your nerves
can stand best and let him bang his
way to sturdy growth.
1t is important to teach the baby
to play by himself. Arrange the
play time; put mat on the floor in a
protected corner; set the child on it,
and give him a simple toy. Show him
how to use it and then leave him to
himself and his job, and for the next
Is minutes or so don't go near him
unless there is absolute need.
AS the child grows cider this period
OF playing by himself is heightened.
The number and the comp!exity of his
playthings are increased. But he
should never have more than two or
three toys at time. Do this, and
pretty soon the baby will be able to
play by himself for a couple of hours
day ana like it.
The point I would leave with you
is this: A child's play is serious busi-
ress. 1t should be promoted, encour-
aged and guided. 1t shoI.d be respect
ed. The way child plays has great
deal to do with the way he works when
he takes his place in the world OF
srown-ups.
Mr.. Patri has prepared a eafiet
entitled, Annoying Habits" in
which he tells parents how to cope
with some of the common infan-
tile faults. Send for it, address
4. ing your request to Mr.. Angelo
Patri, Child Psychology Depart
ment Of this paper, and inclose
self addressed, stamped t3-cenD
envelope.
1o2QN