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Show Successful Parenthood Mrs. Catherine Conrad Edwards. Ed-wards. Editor Parents Magazine. Maga-zine. Parents and gift-bringing friends have been well educated educa-ted in choosing the right toy for very young children. They know about the baby's need for toys to feel, watch and chew on as he learns about the . material world about him. They know, too, about the toddler's need for toys to test his new skills push and pull toys to help him gain confidence confi-dence in walking, a little chair of his own to show off the involved in-volved business of sitting down in a chosen- spot instead of just flopping. But as the child approaches three or four and is undeniably an individual, you have to put a lot of thot into what your particular Jimmy or Julie will benefit by, as well as enjoy If four-year-old Jimmy, for example, is quiet and a bit sluggish about exercise, now is the ideal time to have Santa Claus introduce outdoor play equipment a swing, a teeter-totter teeter-totter and especially a bit of climbing apparatus. An easel and paints will be a more natural form of amusement for the little introvert and would wisely balance the gifts meant to stir him into more activity. . But suppose three-year-old Julie on the other hand, is too slam-bang for a little girl. Now is the time to develop her more feminine side with a doll she can bathe and undress , and wheel about in a doll buggy. (Up to now dolls have tools of these play trades make suitable gifts. After eight, the child has usually found his- place with his age mates and is most valuable about the gifts he wants, which will usually be something- his friends ' can share. , are usually not too difficult. Cooking, sewing and carpentry engage his interest and any just been something to hug and squeeze and drag around by one foot.) Records to which the child can dance and sing will develop rhythm and thus lay the foundation for bodily grace. Boys and girls both at this age are ready for toys that improve hand and finger dexterity, dex-terity, such as beads for stringing, crayons and miniature minia-ture cars. An outdoor playhouse, sim-ply sim-ply constructed out of packing boxes, helps the six-year-old go a step farther in dramatizing dramatiz-ing adult housekeeping. If playhouse is in the yard, brother bro-ther will enter into the play, especially if he can turn the-playhouse the-playhouse into a store or doctor's doc-tor's office now and then. Playing school doesn't seem to occupy children as much as it used to when the more dominant child in the group . was usually teacher and always al-ways had a stick in her hand as a symbol of authority. But children of four or five are becoming acquainted with school things books, pencil sets, more advanced records, paper and scissors all ot which make welcome gifts. The bicycle age is from six on, though the child should show some inclination for riding rid-ing a bike before he is confronted con-fronted with trying a skill he can't yet master. The same is 1 true of roller skates, ice skates and skis, all of which are possible pos-sible for the six to eight year old child to use. Games that the child can play with his parents or older brothers and sisters are much appreciated at this time dominoes, checkers check-ers and simple card games |