TOO MANY TOYS.

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 9817, 22 February 1936, Page 3

TOO MANY TOYS.

NOT GOOD FOR THE CHILD’S DISPOSITION. An important thing for a young mother to remember Is that she i% not there to amuse her baby. 'Baby should amuse himself. Many parents imagine that directly their baby sits up and takes notice he needs a lot of amusement to “make him sharp.” Toys should play a minor part in baby’s amusement. The young father who comes home proudly displaying another toy horse for sonny Is not being helpful if sonny already possesses toys. In fact, an accumulation of toys worries a small child, because it over-stimulates the tiny brain and makes him fractious. This is why you often find a contented youngster possessing only one toy. with which he will play for hours at a stretch, whilst the disagreeable, peevish, dissatisfied child is the possessor of many playthings. A baby should learn to amuse himself and depend upon himself. A child left to his own devices will play with fingers and thumbs, toes, clothes, the strap of his chair, a soft ball, or a stuffed animal. There is no need, as a rule, for a mother to be continually showing the toys to baby, throwing the hall or shaking the rattle. Let the baby learn to do it and leave him to it. OYice you spoil a child by playing with him too much, he will not play alone. Dress the baby in suitable rompers and leave him to his own devices.