Evening star., 1941-11-23
TOYS Should Be Selected
Carefully to Suit ChiIds Age
Educational Expert
Gives Advice for
Holiday Shoppers
By JESSIE FAINT EVANS.


Shopping for Christmas toys this
year" according to Mrs. Leonore K.
Bartlett, educational expert of the
play center at 1919 M street NV,
may not be as joyful. nor as easily |
accomplished here in Washington, |
as it has been in the past, but it
should be emphasized on all the
Christmas must lists for children"
Toys" she said, "are necessary
part of the growth of happy chill
dren, war or no war. Their selection,
with planned sequence in mind to
meet the suitable age levels of child
rem all along the way from infancy
to school age and beyond, is more
than ever vitality important during
this present critical state OF the
world"
This "toy therapist," who has been
instrumental in breaking up unde-
sirable attitudes and habits among
many Washington children through
the magic of the toy world, sees
certain advantages in the 1nev1-
table scarcity of toys along certain
lines. Not only are their manu-
facturers engaged in defense pro-
duction for the emergency, but as
| a result of the shortages thus caused
in specialized toys the public at
large is having to exercise more care
and thought in toy buying.
Very strongly she emphasized the
necessity for making toy purchases
while there is still sufficient time
to examine the stocks. Delay may
result in a last-minute scramble ana
probably Disappointment when
patient but pushed salesperson fails
to locate that something different
for Johnny or Jane.
Must Suit Child's Age.
Wise toy buying means staying at
the child's age level. Too often the
tendency is for an adult to select
tov that appeals to him. Many times
1t is one that in his own Childhood
he longed for. instead Of one suited
to the youngster for whom 1t is In
tended.
"Tovs that are too advanced for
the physical and mental develop
ment of a child may actually cause
unhappiness instead Of giving the
hoped for Joy because of the young
ster's inability to cope with it. she
stressed. What fond parent hasn't
had the awful letdown OF having
, a youngster turn away from the
cleaning treasures around glt-
tering Christmas tree to cling IN
desperation to the comfort OF some
familiar. dog-eared toy more suited
, to him?"
Considering the safety Of toys. she
said a buyer should insist on veg
8 etable paints on all toys for young
children and avoid those with SHARP
| edges. Durable toys. she said, VII
prove an economy in the long run
Mrs. Bartlett considers blocks 10
Young children most adaptable O.
all materials. AS child grows older
:. hammers. nails and tools satisfy I'M
; inherent urge to build. Craft ma
terials. clay. crayons and paints pro
= vide additional avenues for the ex
> nression of ideas For out OF door
'. there are large hollow blocks, swings
climbing apparatus, planks. kee
!, and packing boxes They all max
y GOOD use of the larger muscles.
= Little Difference In Tasks.
She does not feel that there Is a
much difference as Is generally sup
posed between what very young boy
and girls like. until grown-up
foolishly implant such differences
often small boys like buggies an
housekeeping toys just as much a
d little girls because they represeil
e the things most familiar to ther
IL during the first years of their lives
: PLAYING with them, she is conflden
d detracts not one whit from tnel
= masculinity. On the other nant
e little girls often like trains and ooa'
d quite as ardently as their brother
l. In no case, she is sure. has playln
with them ever made a tomoc
Il out OF little sister. although the eA
.e perience may have given her a Walt
IL able conception of the mascullr
If world in which she is to 1--we an
l. to which she must adjust hersel
II With these generalities in min
s. Mrs. Bartlett gave this interview
some suggestions for toys for chi
re dren at different ages.
{, For the infant it is well 10 n
III member that everything will
r right into his mouth. Rattles
wood or plastic materials whlc
l. won't break and can be kept clea
is provide good chewing. Bright oeat
ly of wood. too large to be swalloWe
N are excellent for biting down on, ar
ct securely fastened strings OF the
are a never falling source OF dellgh
other toy joys of infancy are ru'
ber-headed pounding toys, Washao
animals and dolls, and large so
halls that won't bounce away. Pa
a-cake cymbals are never-endlr
joys too.
or Children from l to like slmp
q take-apart toys, not too small, pusf
en- and-pull toys, nests OF blocks.
a. pounding bed, dolls and stuf1e
eI animals.
Youngsters from to 5 will M
na happiness in blocks and more bloci
he Al C blocks mean little to chi
be dren of this age and as ru
in do not make particularly good bull
ry ing blocks. Painted blocks, accor
u ing to Mrs. Bartlett. cost mo
lal money than the plain ones and u
,al nainting adds no more value th'
d. putting bells on them would. Car
al f&y-