Milford chronicle., 1943-11-19
HOME EDWGATl@M
"The Chiid's Firn School is the
Family"-FRoEBEL
Issued BY the National Kindergarten
Association, 8 West l0th Street,
New York City
FIRST LESSONS in TRAFFIC
SAFETY
EDITH BRANDS

Z EDITH BRANDS
; What should one do with a little
boy who runs away?" asked Mrs
Holt of her neighbor, Mrs. Dare
Mine climbs out of his pen, walks
out at the back gate, down the
alley to the street, and l find him
fascinated with the cars whizzing
by. He's too young to be reasoned
with. l don't want to punish him,
but he mustn't run into the street,
either. How did you meet that
problem?" ..
"The first thing you have to do is
TO impress on his baby mind that he
must stay where you put him." said
Mrs. Dare, and she briefly detailed
the method.
The next morning after Mrs. Holt
had washed and dressed her active
runabout, and he had eaten his
breakfast, she assembled a few of
his playthings, took him to the
sunny back yard and put him and
his playthings i'm the pen, saying.
This is Kims play place. This is
the place to stay and play"
He repeated it after her, but she
could not be sure he understood,
and she realized he would not be
able TO remember very long.
She kept watch as she went about
her work. Presently he was look
ing at the trees and flowers and
sky, next he threw down his sand
shovel, climbed out of the pen and
ran out at the back gate.
She brought him back, handed
him another toy and left him play
ing again. shall l shut and bar
the gate?" she considered. NO, she
decided; sooner or later he must
learn to stay in his pen"
Ten minutes later he climbed out
again. This went on during all of
Kims outdoor time that day Mrs.
Holt did not scold or punish the
little fellow. 1t was not a contest
of wills. 1t was a lesson he must
learn.
The next day. however, he began
to think of it as a game. She
would see his bright eyes watching
for her; he would drop his toy,
climb out and run as fast as he
could. Ii was fun. Mrs. Holt did
not lose patience. but neither did
she show any inclination to accept
his challenge to play. She persist
ed without any show of feeling and
not once all that day did he get
outside the gate.
The third day. she saw him throw
down his shovel. look for her. and
start to climb over the side of the
pen. Then he turned back and sat
down and began playing again. AT
ter that, remaining in the pen be-
came easier. Mrs. Holt found. too,
that if she encouraged her child to
exercise vigorously-perhaps mere
ly carrying his playthings from
room to room-before she took him
10 his pen. he had less desire to {
climb out
When the little boy was well-es-
ablished in the new habit, his dad {
ly took over the next and most I
step in fitting him into
/ world full of highpower machine
v. Every morning he took Kim's c
land. and led him out through the
Jack gateway. down the alley to the c
treet. Together they watched the a
peeding cars. Daddy talked to b
Kim about them. They then went
ack home and Kim was given over F
o his mothers care. In the even a
ng. Daddy and his son had another :.
ialk.
Before long they were going
round all four sides of the block,
nd Kim was getting enough atten-
ion. enough adventure, enough ex-
rcise to satisfy the urges that
aused the original running away.
Soon Kim was walking sturdily,
linging to his fathers finger. or
citing go to venture small excur-
ions aheat. His father gave him
II the freedom possible. while
uiding him to stay on the walk.
By the time Kim was four. he
Duld be trusted not to venture into
busy street without Mother. Faith
r or some other grown person, for
lcreasing confidence in adults had
ept pace with his understanding
traffic hazards. He had been
,arning to take care without being
fraid.