Evening star., 1943-08-09
Child Care
Centers Do
Fine Job
Bv Anna Chase

There is one bright and shining
note in the this difficult world of
ours! That Is the intelligent care
that Is being given children whose
mothers are working Employed
parents may have any number of
other worries, but they may be very
sure that Junior is well fed, we'll
cared for, and having wonderful
time while they are off earning his
keep"
With well-equipped school prop
erty available the greatest need was
for teachers and supervisors and the
funds to pay them. AS soon as the
funds were made available to start
the work, teachers, who had recog-
nized the need for day care for
children for so long, volunteered
their services without hesitation.
Many of them went from a busy
school term right into the day-care
program without days vacation.
Part of the success of the enterprise
was that experienced teachers and
supervisors were on the job imme-
diately and it was not necessary to
train an entirely new personnel.
Now children are received at the
child care centers as early as 7:30
in the morning and may remain
there until called for up until 6 in
the evening. Attendance varies be-
tween 35 and 40 children. They are
grouped according to ages and their
activities planned according to their
development and ability.
Plans for the day vary according
to the time of year and the weather.
At the present time every effort Is
Llade to keep the children out Of
doors, but without too much time in
the sun. There is also tendency to
limit strenuous play to short periods,
alternating with table play, such as
coloring, painting or handcrafts.
This prevents too strenuous exertion
in the heat.
At noon there Is a carefully
planned hot luncheon, for which all
the facilities of the school cafeteria
are used After lunch there Is rest
period. During this time each child
goes 70 his own little canvas cot for
rest of at least 80 minutes. Most
OF them sleep, and the nap is more
likely to last an hour or more.
On the playground there is the
usual play equipment, such as a
sandpile, swings, see-saw and
merry-go round, which the little
children enjoy. On the lawn areas
are croquet. badminton and similar
games for the older children. Hop
scotch is marked out on the concrete
walks and certain area is set aside
for baseball and other strenuous
activities of the older boys.
There are special treats" planned
for various days in the week. One
day the group makes pilgrimage to
the nearest library for a morning of
story telling. Librarians who have
specialized in the art of narration
take over the group for an hour,
after which they may adventure on
their own and ask questions to their
hearts content
Several days a week they all go
to the nearest swimming pool. The
little ones play in the wading
pool under close scrutiny OF super
visors who watch that they do not
fall down or get too much sun. Older
children have many swimming and
diving instruction as most of the
swimming periods are planned when
the general public is not admitted
On swimming days, instead of
lunch in the cafeteria they usually
take a picnic lunch and enjoy it at
the pool.
There are all sorts of handcrafts
available Basket weaving is taught
clay modelling, wood working, paint
ing and other decorative arts. There
are capable teachers for these, as
we'll as plenty of time to work out
ones own WITNESSES.
Best Of all, the children love It.
1t is no chore TO get them ready
and of In the morning, and though
they may return a bit tired in sthe
evening, they are usually smiling
and happy, and ready to tumble into
bed for . relaxed and dreamless
sleep.