Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-09-17
Play Time Is
A Balancing
Recreation Should
Not Be Allowed
To Seem Work
BY ANGELO PATRI.

fSSCIe0IlOu b WOIk lIldL AllUWo
one to rest from his occupation.
The two should be kept separate
in the minds Of parents and
teachers. There are some children
and young people who, If left to
themselves, turn their recreation
into occupations and so become soft
and worthless In actual life.
Going to the movies ought to
be a recreation. A child who has
gone to school all week and at
tended to his chores at home needs
some relief from actuality and the
movies ought to be the right thing.
But how about those children who
want to go to a show every day,
haunt the doors of the movies,
watch for every cent that might
help to buy ticket? They are
turning the movies into a life oc-
cupation and that is a threat to
their growth and usefulness.
Sports are essential to the
healthy growth of young people
Boys and girls alike need the as
ISOLATION in team work, the thrill
of working with the group against
the opposing group. They need
the exercise, the stimulation and
the attitude of good fellowship
that sports offer. But the boy or
girl who lives from game to game,
who counts any other activity an
interruption, is in danger Sports
must be the balancing influence,
not the whole force of life.
Music, the drama. social service
dor the amateur, parties and trips
are recreations and should take up
only their share of a child's life.
When a child is found resisting
work, duty. routine. and turning to
his play life constantly, it is time
to examine him carefully to dis
cover why reality is distasteful to
him. There is something wrong
with him
Healthy children have healthy
attitudes toward life in general.
They accept, however reluctantly,
the days work as 1t comes. They
do not expect to play always, to
escape always to pleasant places.
They look forward to recreation
after work with happy anticipa-
ton, but they do not long to stay
with it always. Only the distressed
of mind take that attitude.
A physical examination should
be made of this sort of child as
soon as possible. Then his home
life should be scanned for any
remediable situation that seems
pressing upon him too hard. Next.
his school routine should be looked
into and helpful changes made in
his program. Then his play life
should come under consideration.
Every one of these phases of a
child's life is important in his at
titudes and behavior and affects
his accomplishment.
Once . program has been work
ed out for his benefit it should be
given q fair trial before modifica-
ton. Often We expect to change
in few days condition that has
taken years to set. 1t usually
takes some time and 1t requires
great patience and understanding.
When trying to redirect such
child it is best to enlist the help
Of some experienced teacher who
sees him daily. That teacher will
cooperate with the physicians and
the family and will help adjust
things in the school to the childs
needs. With understanding Of the
difnculty. with patience and the
help Of the physicians and teachers,
most of these children can be
brought into harmony with their
lives.
Many children behave badly
because they are not properly
fed. Be sure that your own
little boy or girl forms correct
eating habits. Send for Angelo
Patri's booklet Eating" inclos-
jnr 10 cents in coin Address