THE KINDERGARTEN AT HOME.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 177, 21 April 1908, Page 3

THE KINDERGARTEN AT HOME.

To tho mothers whoso littlo ones conic with the oft-repeated questions: "What shall I do?" "What shall I play?" let me whisper a few words of help. Children are always active, always seeking employment when left to themselves, and they should be given some busy work which wiil turn their thoughts into right channels and strengthen their littlo minds.This right kind of busy work they aro. given in the kindergarten schools, but there are hundreds cf children who cannot • attend these schools, and it is the mothers of those littlo ones who will bo helped by these suggestions. i

• Wo all agree that children /, should bp [happy, busy, and orderly'; but liow to make and keep them so is a question which many mothers find.hard to ,solve., Pin your faith to the kindergarten, i-aiid''you will not.: s b'e disappointed in the ' results' of ; this system. Mothers with tho caro of tho household lipon them cannot give .their children tho time and attention in this line that they would '.receive in a kindergarten school, but they can givo them suggestive answers to, their questions: "What can I do A few minutes spent in showing the children how to do something along the right lines will be considered well' spent when; mamma sees' littlo one 6 happy and busy for hours.

For instance, nearly all the tiny girls .want ;to ..-sew, "just like mamma." It takes but a fow 1 minutes to perforate, by running through the sewing machine (with tho longest stitch and no thread) objects on the advertisement • cards so freely distributed, or the outlines of. chairs, stools, stables, lamps, cups, fruit, flowers, animals, etc., drawn on stiff paper and perforated. Then you; havo the sewing cards which aro used in the, kindergarten. Sets of these cards can be-bought, .together with coloured threads; but the home-mad© ones answer every purpose and can bo mado simple or complicated to suit tho ability of the child: After the cards are ready, take bright coloured thread and a blunt'needlo and teach the children to backstitcli the outlines; or let them go in and out, all around the design, then go back and "shut up the gates," 'as some little ones say. - Good results in teaching tho alphabet, and figures have been obtained by having the letters and figures on these cards. It impresses; the forms on tho mind, at the same time giving the. child pleasure. When they become proficient in following the straight lines,'they can be' taught to make the alphabet in cross stitch, .'and. then it will bo a proud day when tho ■ little miss marks mother's towels. It is ' surprising how quickly they will learn to thread tho needle, make the knot and fasten the 'onds, and not only this, but .a few remarks dropped now- and then about their work will train them to observe form and colour and help them later on in tho work in public schools. Save the best of their work, and it can bo used as gifts for those who love the little tots. —" Good Housekeeping."