Show Kindergarten I. I Helps for Parents It 44 limed Mi by the Df Department of the Interior Bureau of Education and the National Kindergarten Association I BABY'S INTELLIGENCE rl- rl By MRS HARRIET HELLER It was to obtain important information information tion Uon one morning not long Jong ago that I r ventured to Ask admittance to a beautiful beau beau- 4 ros embowered cottage across the street from my new home fl 1 h A charming young mother met me meat at the door holding her baby on her arm arm She endeavored to answer my 1 question In a gracious and neighborly way but was constantly interrupted by bythe bythe the childs child's cries j While we we stood there the infant was gently changed from one arm to the theother v- v other then pet put upon her shoulder sYr Later when we were seated within she sheI I rested her upon her knee In the time- time honored position supposed to give comfort corn com ii fort to disturbed tummies All An to tono tono no purpose The little one fussed and fussed Quite naturally we we fell ten to talking of babies The young mother was thoroughly thoroughly thoroughly thor thor- versed in modern modem lore she knew rules regulations symptoms remedies foods and all an the rest and was enthusiastic about the modern ence of off bringing up Infants As AR far as I can see there Is nothing nothIng nothing noth noth- ing the matter with her she said Possibly her teeth hurt her She Is young to have teeth but sometimes you know know know- and so on The observation observation tion lion about the teeth was made In the I same tone of voice vOl e with a n purely Impersonal impersonal impersonal im Im- personal inflection which she would have used to say The machine is cutting cutting cut cut- f ting the thread thread as as if teeth were a contrivance to be adjusted by bolts and screws Not once in my presence had she spoken to her baby baty Wanted to Be Noticed It was evident to fo me that her modern modern mod mod- W ern training while essentially desirable desirable desir desir- able had largely destroyed the instinctive Instinctive tive expression of the natural mother To her baby was was' was primarily a mechanism I ism m and if she did not know of any mechanical means of correcting an upset up ups 1 Ij set condition she Fhe was quite at a loss j what to do Baby for tor her part it r 4 u. u seemed to me was s p persistently den denyIng deny deny- Ing this classification She not tt i c was only something thi somebody and she kt r. r hs r wanted the fact recognized I thought at ob e of the way vay Froebel F Froebel Froe- Froe o bel the founder o of the kindergarten 17 sh shows us h how hv v tf tp to meet such sucha a need in his his' his Mother J t r. r Play book and v 40 how 1 I wished I could try it Just then the ther r Y r yot young g mother was was called to the ph phone ne ner r and I seized my opportunity k Miss Baby was comfortably deposited depos on ti ii a couch near me but after a ri W moment or JOT two two continued fretting and f t tossing her hands restlessly Leaning o over r her her I touched the little fists gently gent I IN N ly thinking this greeting How dg do you do o little one one You are getting to tobe be a l and you want some oneto one i. to know w. w I b Ji ve you want some one oneto to notice you and arid talk bilk with you jou My touch must have aroused her herno notice no no- tice bec use I she gave heed ed I next next slipped my rpy forefingers Into the Hie palms r of her hands and fn fashion baby she he g gripped them How Hov do you like to toY iX Y hold my fingers I asked Very gently gently gently gent gent- ly then I began to raise her Into a sitting pitting position and she smiled as she shea t a felt her head leaving the pillow When r. r sh she could hold on no longer she fell back Three times J I did this allowing ng K her to ta fall fan b back cle more quickly each time Baby enjoyed ed the slight shock in falling and I In g her ber little UttIe way Increased Increased increased In- In creased in strength and In the consciousness con- con tT s of strength She was as now c. c per perfectly satisfied her er need for t and self-activity self had ha been met Song for Baby The conversation at the phone still rt continued and while waiting I tried to r recall e all the son song to to- sing with this little 4 game ame In In a n few v minutes when baby nr was ready to play Falling Tailing Falling again I sang softly lifting her this time by holding my hands at nt her back t t Down gets geed baby taby Mothers Mother's pet r Up Up com orn ad baby t yet Laughing Baby DabY well ell may laugh at harm F While beneath Is mothers mother's era arm Down I Roes goes oes baby fear tear Up comes ames baby Gaily here All AU Is Joy for tor baby while In the tho light of ot mothers mother's smile I Iv v Upon her her return the little tittle mother expressed great admiration for tor my e skill as n a baby It was simple I said sold and described what had happened She was much Interested F f and wanted to know more about Froebel's Froe- Froe bels bel's Mother Day Piny A few days later when she came to call I had my old worn copy of the j Mother Play Play ready rendy to show her It ft i surprised her to learn that this book 1 which Is used so much by hers was waR written e especially for moth- moth I with children up to six years old mid nud ud the ho listened eagerly as I showed her the t six lx or seven games which bab baby might play My My new new ac acquaintance ac- ac thanked me most appreciatively ap ap- for the help I had given her and when she left she carried the f little book away with her tucked under I i r her arm |