SCHOOL HOLIDAYS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20929, 7 January 1938, Page 10

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS

GAMES AND HOBBIES The children must have some space in lhe home and in the garden, if there is one, where they can be what may be considered thoroughly messy and untidy, without having to clear up for meals and things. There they should be allowed to have such occupation as real clay and a wooden board, for modelling, paints for work with carpentry as well as just water-colours. Boys, at any rate, from almost nursery years like six or less, should have an increasing number of good carpenter’s tools, not toy ones, and plenty of wood. The local tradesmen will be glad usually to let regular customers have wooden boxes for nothing, or next to nothing, and these take the young carpenter at least part of his way. What the children do or make in such a setting will vary immensely, depending upon age, sex. or inherent interests. A boy may be obsessed for the time being with making a fort, a boat, an aeroplane, or he may have reached the stage when a model theatre with its fascinating lighting possibilities appeals, and even puppet shows may develop. A simple variation of this puppet idea that may appeal more to girls who are less attracted by carpentry, is a puppet show of the Punch and Judy type, which obviates the complication of model stages and multiple wires, and can well be manipulated with glove puppets from below. From this it is only a step to the family with near neighbours planning a play, with little and essentially unobtrustive help from mother to settle problems, offer occasional hints in organisation, provide dressing-up material or stage property.

A camera is an investment for girls or boys if they learn to cheapen photography and double the interest by doing their own developing and printing.

If expeditions can sometimes be made further afield, into country districts for a day, so much the better. Ponds can yield all kinds of new inmates for the aquarium, or flowers can be collected to be pressed in book, or taken as photographic studies.