Training Little Children: Suggestions for Parents. Bulletin, 1919, No. 39
Author: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Education (ED)
Date: 1919-00-00
Type: Collected Works - General
Subjects: Educational History,Mothers,Educational Policy,Kindergarten,Child Development,Young Children,Informal Education,Parent Child Relationship,Parent Education,Parent Materials,Parent Role,Parenting Skills,Parents as Teachers,Government Publications,Early Childhood Education,Developmentally Appropriate Practices,Experiential Learning,Learning Activities,Child Rearing,Educational Philosophy,Physical Activities,Ethics,Values Education,Play,Music,Gardening,Rural Areas,Discipline,Story Telling,Interpersonal Competence,Patriotism,Guides

The kindergarten propaganda work that has been conducted by the Bureau of Education and the National Kindergarten Association in cooperation during the past six years has brought about a more widespread interest in the subject of the educational value of the early years of childhood. This has been manifested not only by an increase in the number of kindergarten classes established, but also by an increasing demand for the series of articles on "Training Little Children." These have been sent, upon request, to upward of 25,000 mothers, 1,500 home demonstration agents, 1,000 presidents of women's clubs, 1,000 kindergartners; also to 1,027 orphanages. The articles were furnished by the National Kindergarten Association, and nearly all of them were prepared by mothers who were formerly kindergarten teachers. Based upon kindergarten principles, these articles contain valuable suggestions for helping untrained women solve the perplexing problems which constantly beset the busy, overworked mother in her home. The articles were originally written for publication in newspapers and magazines, as it was felt that in this way a very large number of mothers could be reached. The results have been most gratifying, for the articles have appeared in the columns of daily and weekly papers in practically every large city in the country, as well as in those of many small towns and villages. More than 1,000,000 single articles have been circulated to date, and as the demand for them is constantly increasing it seems wise to present this material in more permanent form. This bulletin has therefore been compiled to meet the needs of parents. Following an introduction by Bessie Locke, the following 47 articles are presented: (1) Walks and Talks Afford Valuable Opportunities for Teaching (Bertha Emelin); (2) Kindergarten Activities Provide Profitable Amusement at Home (Alice Wingate Frary); (3) Rules Should Be Few but Positive (Elvira Hyatt); (4) Delightful Occupations During Walks with Children (Bertha Emelin); (5) Froebel's Philosophy Helps the Mother (Louise Guldlin Simenson); (6) Mutual Recognition of Rights Is Essential (Mrs. Charles R. Long); (7) Love What You Have to Do (Mana Clark Jackson); (8) Build Up Virtues and Faults Will Disappear (Elvira Hyatt); (9) Homemade Scrapbooks the Most Satisfactory for Little Folk (Jess Sweitzer Sheaffer); (10) Training for Membership in the Family Circle (V. Oma Grace Oliver); (11) Development of Ideas Makes Useful Men and Women (Janet W. McKenzie); (12) Enter into the Play Spirit of Your Boys and Girls (Lenore R. Ranus); (13) It Is Easy to Teach Through Play (Lenore R. Ranus); (14) Social Intercourse Brings Valuable Lessons (Lenore R. Ranus); (15) Give Children Toys Which Answer Their Needs (Lenore R. Ranus); (16) The Home Must Lay the Foundations of Character (Mrs. John Henry Hammond); (17) Sharing the Children's Work and Pleasure (Princess B. Trowbridge); (18) Simple Playthings May Be Utilized (Princess B. Trowbridge); (19) Helpful Plays Can Be Carried on While Mother Is Busy (Princess B. Trowbridge); (20) Educational Material Can Be Bought Easily (Dorothy Canfield Fisher); (21) Isolation Is an Effective Punishment (Laura Willard Lawrence); (22) The Real Mother Is Careful to Train Her Child's Character (Harriet Frances Carpenter); (23) The Careful Mother Ponders the Effects of Her Child's Actions (Harriet Frances Carpenter); (24) The Influence and Inspiration of Spiritual Motherhood (Harriet Frances Carpenter); (25) The Child Needs Care, Nurture, and Love (Bertha Goodkind); (26) How the Children Keep a Weather Calendar (Bertha Lewis); (27) Come, Let Us Live with Our Children (Ethel G. Young); (28) Every Child Instinctively Desires to Use His Hands (Dorothy Canfield Fisher); (29) A Kindergarten for Every Neighborhood (Alice Wingate Frary); (30) Planting a Garden More Fun than Playing House (Bertha Lewis); (31) All Living Things Appeal to the Vitality of the Child (Bertha Lewis); (32) Mothers' Problem: To Provide Children with Something to Do (Dorothy Canfield Fisher); (33) Base Early Education on Sound Principles of Child Study (Winifred G. McBroom); (34) Let Us Not Cripple Our Children's Self-Dependence (Alice Barton Harris); (35) Bravery Is Natural; Fear Is Inculcated (Alice Barton Harris); (36) Seventeen Useful Rules for Mothers (Gertrude H. Campbell); (37) Begin Early to Form the Habits of Your Child (Edith Clark Cowles); (38) Music an Elemental Part of Life (Jean N. Barrett); (39) How Music Helps in the Life of the Home (Jean N. Barrett); (40) Being a Good Mother Requires Understanding, Devotion, and Sacrifice (Isabel S. Wallace); (41) Simple Things Please Children, and Simple Methods Are Best to Control Them (Isabel S. Wallace); (42) Gardens, Pets, Books, and Pictures for Country Children (Eda W. Semken); (43) Develop Right Relationships from the Start (Ruth Heppner Swaine); (44) Be Kind, but Firm, in Your Insistence on the Right (Ruth Heppner Swaine); (45) Learning to Play with Others Is the First Lesson in Social Training (Dora Ladd Keyes); (46) Kindergarten Methods as Valuable for Home as for School (Marie K. Chaffee); and (47) Story Telling for Patriotism (Carolyn Sherwin Bailey). [Best copy available has been provided.]