Evening star., 1942-09-30
Child's Playtime
Both Helpful
And Amusing
Serious Business
OF Having Fun
ImbOffanf
By Lettice Lee Street,

Joan's aunt was busy lady with
no children, and she took young
sters very much for granted. So
while little Joan was visiting her
the hours dragged heavily by, with
no one to talk to and nothing to do
Joan became petulant and whiny-
her aunt complained to me that the
child was spoiled, maddening little
brat. when I was small girl I
am sure that was always busy"
she declared impatiently, struggling
her shoulders with evaporation.
True to tell, Joan's behavior was
very natural, for it is rare to find
a pre-school child who can amuse
himself contentedly for hours with
cut a playmate or without any one
who will listen sympathetically to
| all he has to ask and to tell. Most
Youngsters left to themselves have
very little initiative about finding
something to do, but they are easily
inspired and most tractable to
ideas given to them by others.
The small person who is left alone
to muddle through undirected play
is being deprived of not only lot
of fun but also of many useful les
sons that will stand him in good
stead when he starts to school and
has to mingle with other children.
A child's play hours are not friv-
olous to him, and grown-up should
not regard them so, either. Playing
is the serious business of working to
the child. Observe how solemnly
a little fellow years old will
hammer the pegs on his board and
how intently small girl concen-
trates upon the house cleaning of
her dolls cottage.
The correct sort of play helps a
child's department, both mental
and physical, He learns how to
concentrate. how to take care of his
things and to be neat about putting
AilIiil away AliS bbolIlSS, lol GA
ample, of stringing large beads on
shoe lace may seem as nothing to
the casual observer, but actually
it is showing the little child how to
make voluntary selections of colors
It is teaching him those colors as
we'll as increasing the skill of the
finger muscles and inspiring him
| wit, tlo 81, ~ 81, toe
Complicated games and toys or
ones that take too long to finish
will be impatiently abandoned by
the little boy or girl. They need big,
simple materials to work with and
play projects that can be completed
quickly, All play equipment should
be within childs age abiity-it is
disappointing and discouraging to
try to play with toy that awkward
young fingers find impossible to use
Small duties about the house, if
cheerfully suggested by a clever
mother, are joyfully accepted by
most children. Even though it may
SLOW up her houseWork. a mother is
doubly repaid when she sees the
pleased and contented faces of her
little people as they squeeze the
orange juice or pat small bits OF
dough into cakes for themselves
This is all very sound instruction
disguised as gay game. The most
humdrum task can be made to seem
exciting and amusing to a child il
he catches the spirit of secret
or a surprise" or an adventure
and if he is made to feel that the
Job is a privilege; that he is really
helping and doing important grown
up work.
This really is not hard to do; all il
requires is touch of humor plus q
bit of patience, and it certainly pre-
, vents children from whining anc
, tugging fretfully on mothers skirts
Little children need to be taught
how TO play just as they need tc
be instructed in everything, and the
!. way child plays now will have
an influence upon how he work.
when school starts and his frs
responsibilities begin.