Show home education the childs first school is the family amily froebel LITTLE THINGS by lucia mallory when I 1 think of the steady stream of children passing my desk here in the library day fek day it does not seem strange it I 1 though I 1 have never been R S mother should often be consulted by my friends about the behavior problems of their children yet it took special thought and to find an answer to gladys currans request for help in curing her 21 year old shirley of being a runaway do come over soon lucia gladys entreated and see if you ca can n tell me why shirley keeps running away all the time weve done everything we can think of to make home attractive to her weve turned the glassed in side porch into a big sunny playroom perhaps you have given shirley too many toys I 1 suggested gladys shook her head IW W tried not to do that lucia L just has her big doll and her buggy and a few other substantial toys ill come as soon as I 1 can and do my best to help you I 1 promised seeing a look of genuine distress on my friends face the days work at the library was finished before I 1 found time to give the problem of the little runaway much thought I 1 was having dinner that evening with my friend nancy harter onee once a successful first grade teacher now an equally successful mother come early nancy had urged so you can see the baby before she goes to bed I 1 hurried along the street anticipating a pleasant half hour with baby joan a lovely unspoiled child though she is the only girl in in a family boasting several sturdy boys her smiling little face was watching for me from the front window for a moment I 1 wondered how she could be tall enough ito to reach that window when I 1 went in I 1 saw that she was stand ing on a littile box her mother had placed for her joan likes to watch for her daddy and the boys nancy explained pla ined 64 so I 1 fixed a little step for her after her nap she plays here until time for them to come home chomej from her box in a corner joan picked up a small knitted doll and carried it to me in a motherly fashion baby bets nancy told me joan likes bets better than any of her other dolls mother gave her a lovely big doll for her birthday but she care much about it yet shell enic en m a big doll when ashes a little n ger herself m w joan put her dolly into a buggy it was just the right height for the little mother to push around the room I 1 noticed then that all of her toys were small enough to be manipulated easily by her baby hands could that be a clue to gladyss trouble were shirleys shirleye Shir leys toys too big for her it take me long to find out I 1 went over to gladyss house the very next day please let me see Shirley Shir leys play splay room I 1 began without ceremony all right dr mallory gladys answered smiling jokingly at me 1 I hope you have diagnosed her case 1 I think I 1 have I 1 answered as we stepped into the pleasant sun sual room and I 1 saw a big doll i illja continued from page eight buggy that was built for a six bix year old arent shirley shirleye Shir leys is toys too big for her gladys the mother looked around her in amazement at the playthings arthen at shirley why lucia bieve alieve youre right in getting durable toys we noticed that they were too big no wonder shirley likes to play at the neighbors there is no big doll anywhere she goes I 1 remember yes im sure of that all the toys are rather small ill get shirley some suitable things to play with this very day what a poor mother I 1 have been indeed you have not P I 1 contradicted only the best of mothers arnoth would seek the reason for her childs displeasing behavior too often all the blame is placed on the small offender I 1 wish more mothers were like you new schedule in effect for overland stages from salt lake city ta tos es angeles leave wilson su at 1100 am a m and arrive los angeles at am next day see display ad for rates tf |