Show WOMANS WOMAN'S WORLDS WORLD S Select e I Gifts G ifs T That h at Meet Creative C ret ye Urge U rg e of Yo Your u r Children C h I d re ii By Ertta Erita Haley HOW TIOW MANY MOTHERS have i. i-i. said a few tew days after Santa Claus Glaus paid his annual visit All those toys and yet Jimmy cant can't seem to find anything to do Youngsters can Indeed have a alot alot alot lot of ot toys but somehow not enough to keep them busy when they must slay stay inside on account of stormy weather or illness On the other side of the picture you may have havea a child with few few toys who can play happily for hours There is a difference in children its it's true but there may be a big difference in the toys Parents frequently frequently fre Ire choose something which may appeal to them but bu which is too advanced for the child or not advanced ad- ad enough Often their choice is based on short range planning which is perfectly perfectly perfectly per per- natural during the holiday rush when shopping has to get done Take a long range view of ot the toy situation however and you'll choose toys which will stimulate the child child and thus keep him occupied occupied pied for long periods of ot time tune Its It's worth It when you think of ot the time they'll be spending in the house housel Children get bored with too many toys right at once If It you can manage it see that some toys are arc set aside after they're opened and let the youngsters rotate playing with different kinds Insist that toys played with must be put carefully i N Creative toys toy Jor for youngsters away before new ones come out This is not a severe disciplinary measure but an essential training effort eUort In the bringing up of ot the young The tactic is followed in play schools and children learn to accept accept accept ac ac- ac- ac it without question Start Youngsters On Simple Toys Children in the three to five age group have a great deal of imagination imagination imagination nation even though you may not be able to follow their trend of thought Watch them at play and they'll be busy creating this and that They'll tell you what it is even though you might never beable beable be beable able to identity identify it by yourself These children need toys within their grasp Blocks are arc still good but give them a good supply of coloring coloring coloring col col- col- col oring books outs cut simple puzzles puzzles with about five large pieces finger paints dough and model clay With a place of their own to work a low table and chair or stool they'll keep happily busy for a good length of time They'll come to you frequently to show you what's going on and you'll find that small praise will keep them happily engaged on more projects They'll make a mess mess too but you'll find they're happy to help you clean it up if it youve you've taught them pride in neatness While they play let them mess to their hearts heart's content otherwise you'll be frustrating frustrating frustrating frus frus- their normal busy instincts at self For long afternoons when they're confined to bed or at least indoors beading puzzles cooking and even sewing will keep the little ones happy These are time consuming occupations which will keep them out from underfoot Boys as well as girls will enjoy cooking They may sometimes prefer prefer pre pre- fer your equipment to theirs but cookie cutters and small molds from mothers mother's kitchen cannot easily easily casily easi easi- ly be ruined For smaller children the toys are better since they can be grasped more readily Types of Painting I Interest Children Children who have difficulty ex ex- expressing expressing pressing themselves usually love to paint However you'll find that talkative children can become very interested too The time they want to spend on painting varies with each individual When you first introduce paints to the child go about it methodically methodically methodically methodi methodi- cally so hell he'll know what's expect expect- ed Spread the floor with newspapers newspapers pers set up paints and water then brushes and books or an easel This will save accidents on the floor since the papers are absorbent You can provide paint aprons or smocks too and you'll find the youngsters are delighted with these theseas as presents as well as easels paints brushes and books Let the child chUd swish his brush around as he pleases and paint give op opportunity ty for lor expression what pictures he chooses Its It's to tobe tobe tobe be understood that he cannot paint furniture or walls If H youve you've ever watched finger painting or done it yourself you know what an immense joy it is The fingers are dipped in the paint and the painting is done on butchers butcher's paper finger painting paper or any other type that has a high gloss When the paint has dried the paper can be pressed with a warm iron on the wrong side then hung or mounted This makes a permanent permanent permanent perma nent picture which may be used in the childs child's room Water paints as well as finger paints can easily be washed off with water and thus make no permanent permanent permanent per per- manent damage If used on furniture accidentally Its It's also easy to clean fingers and clothing after atter paInting time is ready for clean up time Older Youngsters Youngster Enjoy Imitating Adults The influence of living with adults predominates childrens children's lives and its it's easy to understand why they like to engage in like adult-like activities activities activities ties such as building and repairing cars and motors cooking setting table washing dishes or clothing cleaning and dressing dolls You can keep little girls busy for hours with just a single doll if that doll has enough changes of ot clothing for the girl to imagine enough activities Doll clothing can be made by mother in fact a complete wardrobe and this will occupy two or three youngsters for fora a whole afternoon Children will even enjoy helping with the cleaning if you supply them with toys their size Carpet sweepers sweep sweep- ers and vacuum cleaners that really really really real real- ly operate can be put to use in cleaning a and n d picking up their rooms Make some attractive dust cloths too and see how easily an and readily they'll use them Construction toys appeal to both boys and girls and are excellent for teaching not only following instructions instructions instructions in in- but also coordination For somewhat younger children there are arc sets of villages that work something like a puzzle Youngsters eight years old and ond up can be turn turned d loose in the kitchen kitch kitch- en to make such things as muffins puddings and casseroles for the noon or evening meal Before actually actually ac ac- ac- ac letting them cook lay the groundwork with some teaching and participation There are are- some fine books for childrens children's cooking which will help you teach them Embroidery work for girls can be started at seven or eight and I of course there are arc weaving and other types of at handicraft which are interesting too Make Modeling Clay Sets At Home Modeling animals inanimate objects objects objects ob ob- ob- ob or still life can keep children well occupied for hours at a time These little sets make nice presents and can be made at home very quickly Potters Potter's clay bought In powdered or mixed already-mixed form is the thing to use Mix with water if you use powder until soft a and n d pliable Place the balls in decorated jars You may use odd jars and decorate them with decals for a festive look or paint the youngsters' youngsters names on the jars |