HOME HEALTH GUIDE

Chronicle (Levin), 7 February 1947, Page 3

HOME HEALTH GUIDE

A CHLLD'S PliAY LIFE (By tlie Department of Health.) Up to about tvvo years of age a babv is interested in everything, in an experiruental way. TJial applies !• another baby or toddlcr. It hua to be toilched, pushed, patted or hit to sea wliat it will do. For tho aecoud year oi life tlic key. stone of pia y is exploration - — pry into everything, earvy Ihings about, climb up thiuga, and general ly be as busy as a bee, changing quickly froxu one tliing or tov to' another. \\ lice other' children conic to play there's great delight. Thero may be quite a lot of alaudiug by, watclung the others, and ajjsorbing the general idea oi how to play. Other children siiould be eneouragod about the liome. lOven if a two-year-old does not play with theni miteh, lie is absorbing the idea of ollier children.' 'He has to learu to sliare toys and uccoinmodate himself to siualler -and larger playmates, sometimes leading. sometimes giving way. By the tiine lie •is three years old any child, but particularly an only child, needs several opportunities each week to

(play with other children. Sometimes at jyour place, sometimes at tlieir plaees, the process of learning will go on. li. is important learning. But often there are not enough children knowu to the parents or Imndy , enough. A modern development to give I children the chauce to mix, and to ! allow" parents timo olf, is the kinder- I j garten, or the nursery play centre. j Nursery play centres are places where mothers can leave tlieir toddlers to play j together for two or three hours onee or twice a weok. Dou't let your child M>e starved of other children 's com- . panionship, or problems in geltingj aloug together will never be worked 1 out. Kemember the kindergarteu, or j the nursery play centre, and send your louely child along.