The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1940-08-01
EDITH BRANDS

Mrs. Charming and Mrs. May plann-
ed party for Billy and Sue, whose
birthday came day apart.
81 will freeze ice cream" said Mrs.
May.
"And l will make angel food" said
Mrs. Claiming. Lets have the party
in our back yard because of the low
tables there"
"And what shall we do for enter
tainment ?" asked Mrs. May.
perhaps Mrs. Sayre will show the
children how to draw some of those
funny animals. It's too hot for really
active games"
When they asked Mrs. Sayre, she
agreed at once. "But we won't get the
children into any competition. 1t makes
the little ones so unhappy when prizes
are given, and they don't get any,"
Mrs. Charming went home thinking
about the matter of competition and
the giving of prizes.
The day of the party came. The
four to five-year-olds in scant cool
playsuits gathered in the shady yard.
of paper and packs of crayolas. She
said, "Take your prettiest colors and
do as | do"
She gave them brief instructions on
the basic form of bird. She showed
them by stroke after stroke of color.
Line by line they followed as she led.
The fact that each child used his
favorite colors insured that the birds
would be different.
True each bird had a body with
legs, wings, head and tail. But one
was red with purple wings and grey
head; another grey with black legs and
black wings and red head and tail +;
one was purple with orange dots and
wild yellow eyes. AS the strange
creatures began to take shape upon
the paper, the children shouted with
laughter.
When all the pictures were done,
Billy Charming, assisted by Sue May,
pinned them to the picket fence for an
exhibit. Watching their joy in achieve
ment, Mrs. Charming knew the time
had come for prizes. She brought out
a pack of brightly colored cards, spoke
to Mrs. Sayre, who assented, and then
distributed them to the children.
eve will give Jamie prize because
he is so tiny, and he put such pretty
spots on his Bird" she said. "Lucy gets
-. Prize because her bird is running so
fast. Jess gets this card because he's
made his bird build a nest. Buddy gets
this one because his bird has such
large bright eyes," And SO she con-
tinued announcing reason in each
case as she passed the gift.
After the prizes were distributed,
the mothers served ice cream and cake
to their little ones; then there was
time to talk.
"How did you think of this idea Of
prizes for all ?" they asked Mrs. Chan
ming.
"I remembered that Buddy planned
and gave party of his own, one time
when he was not quite six. 1t was a
drawing party at the end of sum-
mer during which the children of the
neighborhood had drifted in and out of
our house finding paper and crayolas
always provided SO they could make
pictures when they wished. At his
party, which was entirely Buddy's own
idea, he gave 'prizes,' as he called
them to every one.
"Afterward, reviewing the summers
experience, | concluded that very
young children have little sense of
competition. They seldom think in
terms of Mine is better than yours,
unless they are inclined to be boast
full. DR.. Doane, what do you think
about this?"
"You are quite right" answered DR..
Doane, new neighbor, who with her
little boy had been invited to the
party. DISCRIMINATION is already de-
veloping at this age, but with a little
encouragement it will keep hand in
hand with appreciation. Educators are
coming to the conclusion that it isn't
wise to try to teach children the ways
of the world too soon. And so, until
their own group interests make it i'm
personal, competition should not be
encouraged But as group conscious
ness and group loyalty develop, boys
and girls learn the lessons of sports
manship, especially what it means to
be good loser and pleasing winner.
I'm sure, prizes are seldom advisable
as a reward to children for individual
superiority but from four to five and
even up to six, as Buddy's party show
ed you, prizes for ALI are greatly ap-
preciated."