Milford chronicle., 1940-12-06
M@ME EDUCATION
"The Child'S First School is the
FamiIy"-FRoEBEL
Issued By the National Kindergarten
Association, West 40th street,
New York City
O00
IN THE CHILDREN'S ROOM
Photo by H. O. TrOpsA
10
LYDIA LION ROBERTS

N ANNN1-NN-
The most interesting kind of a
childrens room is one that is never
wholly completed, that holds an ele-
ment Of anticipation because some
new feature is always being planned
or worked upon. If the children
themselves have the larger part in
this enchanting process, the room
VIII become. for them. very salts
fying.
The play table may be made most
unusual and fascinating, IL it is
transformed into a poetry table.
First be sure there is no oil or wax
Oh the surface. "Waxoff' will quickly
remove 1t. II this is not available
consult a painter. Let the children
collect from papers and magazines,
or have typed. enough poems that
they really like to cover the top.
Help them to glue the poems to the
table, arranging them with spaces
between so they may be easily read
and an artistic effect be produced.
Shellac, or If one of the children is
old enough let him shellac, the
whole top. giving it several coats so
that a hard smooth finish is obtain
ed. Be sure to use white shellac, and
test its drying qualities on and
around a small piece of paper. later
10 be covered by a poem, pasted on
this same table, before the shellack-
ing is undertaken.
A table like this will be of un-
ending interest to the children, and
it may be used for ordinary activities
without detriment to the poems.
Another exciting project for the
children's bedroom or playroom is
a scrapbook screen. An inexpensive
screen with pastebOard panels is the
foundation, and having this, the fun
OF choosing its decorations will be-
gin. The panels of one such screen
were completely covered on both
sides with bright colOred pictures
and copies Of famous paintings. One
young boy had great fun collecting
pictures of ships for his screen. en-
listing his fathers help to procure
pictures of seacraft large and small,
of various countries. and represent
ing those from early days down to
the latest ocean liner. Another at
tractive screen was made by using
covers. Mother and Father
raised the question of harmony, and
good choices were made.
If there is a couch in the chill
dren's playroom, the making of a
personal name couch cover or pill
low top provides an interesting ex-
perience. The children ask play
mates, friends or relatives to write
their names with pencil on separate
squares of unbleached cotton cloth
or any strong, fadeless. washable
material Of a plain color, and then
they outline each name with floss or
thread of some fast color When |
enough squares are ready, they are
sc wn together. The children will |
need help when this is finished for
they will be ready for the lining. A |
variation Of this project would be to
have the contributors draw animals !
Instead of writing their names. The
effect produced is sometimes far
from artistic, but it is usually anus
ing. Either of these covers will last
lor years and be a continual source
If interest to the children.
On the wall Of the chiIdren's room
each year may be hung a personal
with monthly pages made
by the children as the year progress
Is. II will require twelve large OBJ
ongs OF thin cardboard or heavy
,aper. The days of the month may
,e printed on each. or leaves taken
rom any advertising calendar, of
size, may be attached. On
he blank portions Of the Sheets. the
.hildren fasten their bes I school
york for that month. using draw
ngs, number work papers, or any
Ither records Of achievement which
AVE received good marks OF are for