DOLLS AS BABIES.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 608, 10 September 1909, Page 3

DOLLS AS BABIES.

; /:■/: /-KINDEKGARTEN' LESSONS. ; , ''./ 'Philadelphia has hit upon a .way of training the future mothers of the race that sounds extremely . attractive, says the Now York .'.Tribune.". In some of the.kindergartens of that city they hare regular, doll sessions, and the little-girls are tnught .to.-take, care of their, dolls as if the dolls'wero babies—to wash them, dress them, take them out to ride, and especially never to slap the waxen, rag, or china infants.-':.-;,' ■. .'".. ■ ■■'■•■■'. ' . ■'-.•■• ■'■■ ■ ■ .■''• - ; j •Tho notion of Utilising .'.dolls mi--'teaching small ■ girls things •' they ought to know; wheu thoy. grow : up and have real: children came: to a certain .'Philadelphia- ; woman, ono, day when she clianced, upon a tiny mother, who was Riving her: doll a dreadful scolding. It. w'as.'a.delapidated doll, in a rickety carriage, and the embryo mother was slapping it, with vast enjoyment.'. • '. . '.■ '--.-' . "How many times, Dolly, have I told you .not■ to :sit-like that? Don't 1011, I say! Hold yqur ; head .up—ho; not like, that. Oh.dear, will this child ever do what I want it to do? I'm-worn out telling you.!. , ■In a minute I'll :1090 /patience and rive you a good : whipping, and.if ,«vcr a. child' deserved, it you do. • And .you'llgo'to bed and stay there trio rest of: the 'day." :..';.■ . ■.-.'■■';,.. i, '.. .. ■:■ ■'.-. •' \. '■■■'■ ■'■ .-.-• ' -AH this with an accompaniment of slaps and twitchings. ' Some people- might have thought the:scene amusing, but this woman'didn't. She said to herself: ;: •' ...'>•' ..''., ..,'■/ "Poor little thing! Probably that's tho way her female parent 'mothers' her. And'if she has children of'her own by and by'she'll treat them in.tho samo way. She ought to have an-' other.ideal of motherhood:placed before her." And the now. plan w;aS evolved nnd\ suggested to kindergarten teachers, who received it with great favour.... -. "■ ..'.■.. . ' '..':' ; "Tho- doll session isvvery' popular .with the children," said ono of the teachers in the institution where the picture shown herrf was taken.- "And while,they aro playing and hav■inf a /good' time 'they are-, having'--heap's-, of things-they ought to.know ingrained in their', little:minds.' Wo begin with a washing'class,: Sivingeach little,qirl a sponge, which sho uses ry, of course, but which sho is taught to pass over . tho:. doll's' face and. body exactly' as' a] , baby, should be washed. -Then comes 5 tho , : dress- ■ ,ing, and great, rivalry there; is , among tho littlo ■girls'to .see which can dress her child, most •prettily. Before .wo .began .these lessons the ,dolls 'wero ft sorry-looking lot .of playthings.; Tho life, of:'the children around, hore isn't a life to , give them-a' feeling, for,"neatness.'-'' But .now"the little girls take .great' iirido'.in' showing each other the.garments they /have mado for thoir dolls, and we oncourago. them to.niako real littlo petticoats, etc.', such,as babies'vear; The dressing done, tho dolls' hair-is fixed, and then thiiy:are taken for an'outing. ..Tho children'* arc- 'taught-, by mcau's'of' the dolls- the. : right .way' ttf-bitfry' B 'bibyii'loiv'' WftiVS-it' f reShair,"how ,to ; shield it 'from/draughts, howbad it'is fo'drajj it.around by 'one tiriu, .lioiy wrong.; to, slap/and scold. ' And. there's /.far-' cicftltmall this.' Tho little gi'rls'takd'it vory-. seriously,-indeed."-. »■; >.': -.'.. - -/ : \.: ......