CHILDREN AND PLAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23002, 3 October 1936, Page 27

CHILDREN AND PLAY

Every mother knows that a mud puddle or a gutter of rapidly-flowing water, on which to sail paper boats, has more attraction for the average youngster of the male line than the most expensive mechanical toy ever conceived by the mind of man. We give our children so-called culture by the ton, we fill them up with all the modern ideas that are thoroughly harmful, merely to sho - • them off so that they will be able to vie with other children of other women. We neglect altogether those elemental foundations that are to build the solid foundations of character and courage, of resourcefulness and usefulness for later years. Don’t be misled by the notion that mechanical things and artificial sops will satisfy the hunger for playing at mud pies, dressing up lolls, and playing at mothers (says the Sydney Morning Herald). The children who are subjected to long torture of good behaviour, of dressing in their best, of saying and doing things in a restrained and artificial manner; those who are tied down to study so that they never have the time or inclination for natural play will develop all sorts of complexes through repression, possibly ruinous to their later life. The baby who stretches and howls and throws itself about is doing so with a purpose, unknown to itself, but doubtless of the utmost importance. It is growing, and exercise taken in this way, for muscles, for lungs, for lengthening bones, is natural and normal. In the same way the little boy and girl, responding to natural impulses, demands space and freedom just as surely as the kicking babe, and the growing mind needs encouragement and guidance in the elemental instincts, not the everlasting “don’ts” that bind the child as surely as a chain and makes it, in the end, either morbid or furtive in its outlook.

Instead of repressing the child, give it outlets for its energies, constructive outlets, such as building blocks, sweeping the garden paths, picking up the dead leaves, helping to make pies on her own little table in the kitchen. Instead of telling the little mother-to-be-some-day to go away, let her primitive instinct for preparing food be encouraged. There is no reason why a child of 10 or 12 should not know something definite about the simpler form of cookery. They should be taught to handle fuel with care, not to be afraid of it. All things are safe to those who know how to handle them, so why not train a child early to use caution and common sense in such matters, instead of everlastingly preaching the gospel of fear?

Simple accidents such as cuts and burns can be treated sensibly by the kiddies of eight to 10 years if they have been taught what to do in emergency. No child with a good training will entirely lose its head if it sees blood flowing from the wound of a mate. Encourage self-reliance and initiative and you have laid the foundations for gallantry and courage. To play with water is a primitive instinct, and that is why so many children set the bath overflowing. Had they been given a bowl of water out in the garden, or allowed to make mud-pies, they would have had that Instinct satisfied and not turned to acts of sheer devilment. No child is a “ yoUng devil ” when he starts out, but he is made so by too much repression. The stranger the nature, the more of a “ young devil ” he will become, and it is the parents’ duty to see that the strength is turned into the right path, instead of the wrong one. The child starts without fear, and wants to make his own experiments in life. He does not want second-hand experience, culled by his mother or friends. He wants, and must have, his own, if he is worth his salt. To profit by someone else’s experience is to cheat, more or less, and while you are watching your child gain his experience you can guide him so that he does not fail by the way, and will learn something that will stand by him in later life.