IS YOUR CHILD NORMAL?

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 87, 24 September 1915, Page 4 (Supplement)

IS YOUR CHILD NORMAL?

TRY THESE TESTS

The Binet and Simon tests of intelligence are arranged to determine Xli; mental status, or children from three to fifteen yeare of age. If a child responds successfully to the testes arranged tor its age it is probably normal, so far as its intellectual development is concerned. But if it can succeed only in the tests arranged for younger children, it is backward. A child of three should be able to comprehend spoken words and to answer simple questions by a gesture, ask a child of three, "Where are your eyes?'' and it should immediately point to them. A child of three should be able to repeat sentences of six syllables, but not ten. Figures, being more difficult than words, because they ao not convey any meaning to a cnild or three, are limited in the te6t to two, such as six—four. When shown the pictiirs which Binet uses in his tests a child of three will enumerate the objects; it is not possible for him to describe any of the action in the picturt-s. At four a child should be able to repeat three figures, be able to tell which is the longer of two parallel lines, and be able to name familiar objects when they are displayed.

FROM FIVE TO SEVEN

Among the tests at five years of ape is the comparison of weights. A five-year-olid child is able to tell which is the heavier of two blocks equal in si to and appearance, but differing in weight. At five all children succeed in counting four. At three no child can count four, and at four only ffty per cent, of the children tested have been able to do so. At six years a child should distinguish between morning and afternoon, should be able to define known objects and execute three simultaneous commissions. At six Binet believes that a child aesthetic perception is sufficiently developed for it to differentiate between beauty and ugliness. For this test Binet employs a picture of six heads of women in Three pairs, one of which is pretty and the other ugly or actually deformed. At seven a child should be able to count thirteen pennies; describe tho pictures used in the test for three-year mentalities, instead of simply enumerating the objects; point out what is lacking in unfinished pictures. and name four colours.