File:The mothercraft manual (1916) (14589603358).jpg

Identifier: mothercraftmanua01read (find matches)
Title: The mothercraft manual
Year: 1916 (1910s)
Authors: Read, Mary Lillian, 1878-
Subjects: Child care Child development Mothers
Publisher: Boston : Little, Brown, and Company
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: The Library of Congress

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s,cambric needles, thread, 1-inch blocks, small papers,is a nervous strain upon the child. Fine lines, dots,holes, the following of a fine line in cutting or coloring,are also injurious to the eyes. Such fine material andwork is no longer used in kindergartens that haverespect for child hygiene. Too long seated application to work at a table isalso injurious. Half an hour is long enough for anychild under nine years to sit still at work. If he isvoluntarily absorbed longer, some active diversionshould be arranged for a quarter hour, at least. Work suggested that is too difficult for the child todo alone either discourages him by its impossibility,or develops dependence upon others. Educational Values. The handwork is, education-ally, a means of giving concrete expression to imagina-tive ideas, and of making the experience of the childmore vivid. Stories, scenes from history, records ofthe childs own experience, can be portrayed. Thechild does not naturally copy literally from objects.
Text Appearing After Image:
HANDWORK 321 No effort should be made, before six years, toproduce finished products. Technique or skill inproduction do not belong to this period. Vividness,self-expression, development of motor control of armsand hands, coordination of eye and hand, the joy ofworkmanship, the confidence in creating, — these arethe purposes of handwork in early childhood. The genetic method in handwork is to start withyour idea of what you want to make, and then make itof such material as you can find. This is Naturesprocess, the childs process, of creating. The list of ideas to be realized will fall into a fewgroups: Dolls in great variety Furniture Animals Dishes Trains Toys for store-keeping — Wagons and other vehicles all lines of merchandise Boats Toys for playing at oc- Houses, animal cages, cupation — all lines of churches, barns, stores industry Doll clothes Games If any genius is involved in handwork, it is in adapt-ing any kind of material to the realization of any oneof these ideas.

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