HOME HEALTH GUIDE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 89, 3 February 1947, Page 8

HOME HEALTH GUIDE

A CHILD’S PLAY LIFE

(By the Department of Health)

Up to about two years of age a baby is interested in everything, in an experimental way. That applies to another baby or toddler. It has to be touched, pushed, patted, or hit to see what it will do. For the second year of life the keystone of play is exploration—pry into everything, cai’ry things about, climb up things, and generally be as busy as a bee, changing quickly from one thing or toy to another. When other children come to play there’s great delight. There may be quite a lot of standing by, watching the others, and absorbing the general idea of how to play. Other children should be encouraged about the home. Even if a two year old does not play with them much, he is absorbing the idea of other children. He has to learn to share toys and accommodate himself to smaller and larger playmates, sometimes leading, sometimes giving way. By the time he is three years old any child, but particulai'ly an only child, needs several opportunities each week to play with other children. Sometimes at your place, sometimes at their places, the process of learning will go on. It is important learning. But often there are not enough children known to the parents, or handy enough. A modern development to give children the chance to mix, and to allow parents time off, is the kindergarten, or the nursery play centre. Nursery play centres are places where mothers can leave their toddlers to play together for two or three hours once or twice a week. Don’t let your child be starved of other children’s companionship, or problems in getting along together will never be worked out. Remember the kindergarten, or the nursery play centre, and send your lonely child along.