LEARNING WHILST PLAYING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21266, 21 February 1931, Page 24

LEARNING WHILST PLAYING.

Soon after a baby is six weeks old, you will see, if you watch closely, the first signs of what psychologists term the “ play-instinct.” For the first six weeks a child’s sole interest is the warm comfort of feeding and sleeping, but there comes a redletter occasion when he shows distinct pleasure in the possession of his five senses. As you smile and talk he gazes solemnly up, responds first with an uncertain wobbly smile, and at last struggles to respond with a tiny sound from his soft mouth. His delight is quite evident, and after a few days experimenting he finds that by control of throat and lips he can copy and repeat a particular sound; and from that day his cooings and babblings are play, and give him great pleasure. In the course of the next two or three weeks he finds out that fingers and toes belong to him; while inadvertent thumps on his nose with waving fists begin by their eye-watering effects to teach him to control those unruly members. “Grabbing” becomes his most absorbing interest, until he finds that a vigorous lunge out whilst being nursed sends him upwards. Soon he is amusing himself and his nurse by indulging in various baby-games, and in such simple play he expresses his human desire for companionship and sympathy —wants no less urgent to the completion of life than food and warmth. About the age of twelve months the baby begins to toddle, and, except when asleep, is ceaselessly active. Even before this, whilst crawling, he has been experimenting with his muscles and senses, training them for future use. Measuring distance from chair to door as he crawls, and throwing his toys about, he trains his ears as well as his sense of direction. This need for play must express itself for the nervous system will not develop. At three years the child revels in the “ folk ” games that have come down from mother to child through countless generations. Whatever the changes, children’s games remain the same. »

The parental instinct shows itself very early in games with dolls, reaching a climax about the age of six» when boys, and sometimes girls, begin to scorn them utterly. Presently the child will delight in hiding in cupboards, making primitive shelters and imaginary caves under the nursery table. Round about seven years, imagination comes into play, hunting and chasing instincts express themselves in hide-and-seek, “ touch,” and other games. At nine children enjoy competitive games. Little girls begin to like “helping mother,” while boys beg for mechanical toys and engines with real steam. Between nine and twelve the play of children begins to show some particular “ bent,” and parents may often form a very sound opinion of a child’s spedial aptitudes and begin to plan for the future accordingly while watching him amuse himself. —E. A. Cocker, in the Glasgow Weekly Herald.