The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1941-01-23
DRESSING UP
GRACE ARCHIBOLD

1t was not until my lot was cast
for a time in a very lonely part of
the world, with four young children
to keep happy and amused, that | re-
allied what help clothes can be.
When we ourselves are feeling
tired, it is wonderful what a change
of raiment will do for us. 1t is much
the same with children. Without Civ
ing undue prominence to this fact
training them to be little peacocks-
/ have found changing their clothes
or dressing up" the greatest help
both in keeping the peace and in the
formation of character.
| taught them from the first to
take great care with regard to bodily
cleanliness, so that it became a habit;
and next, the duty of making the best
possible appearance by looking tidy
and ttractive-when coming to table,
for instance, after romping outside in
their sand pile or playing in the snow.
| pointed out to them the cleansing
of Natures face by means of the rain
and the sad results when there is a
shortage of rain; also, the beautiful
and suitable dresses worn by the
flowers and the trees and the keen
pleasure we derive from them, sug-
gesting that they, too, try to look
their best for the sake of others.
1t was very hard for them not to
have the companionship of other
children In a sense this deficiency
was partly supplied by dressing up
and playing games in which they were
other persons for the time. Little
children love to pretend-to act a
part-and looking back, l can see
how the time given to this form of
amusement helped mine to prepare
for the great drama of life.
Fortunately, l was able to manage
an airy playroom for them, and in a
light homemade box put, from time
to time, all sorts of garments and
odds and ends that would come in
useful when they were dressing up
This was a never-ending source of
joy.
Good city friends, interested in this
box, sent me parcels of clothing occa-
sionally The arrival of parcel was
always the signal for a happy half
hour and in itself the means of char
acter forming. 1t taught the child
rem mselfshness in allotting the con-
tents. Incidentally, the opening of
the parcel was a prize awarded for
tidiness. Even very small children
can be trained in some such way. The
JOY of opening the next parcel proved
a great incentive.
During the periods | devoted en-
tirely to my children, | usually either
read to them or told them a simple
story, with dramatic possibilities. 1t
was always a story Of an uplifting
nature, and entirely free from horror
in any shape or form.
The next step was to dramatize the
story Perhaps we kept the perform
ance of it for story day. After the
reading we decided on the various
parts to be taken and the children
would talk about it and try to remem-
ber all the important situations and
plan the "dressing up" When there
were humorous touches, 50 llucfl tHe
better; we enjoyed the tonic Of a
hearty laugh.
Often simple tea party, with a
change Of suit and frock for host and
hostesses, was found to be most re-
freshing.
We were too far from neighbors to
make it possible for birthday parties
with guests, so in winter when the
children's father could be present we
often arranged on our program OF
games special play with a little
address of congratulation for the
birthday child, who was kept in happy
ignorance of the speech and costume
until the event came off.
Clothes play a more important part
in child life than we are apt to i'm
agine, and the 'dressing up" games
may be a potent means Of teaching
vital principles. Pm sure they helped
my children to learn lessons in tol.
erance, truth, kindness and love OF
the really beautiful things of life.