368 AlissO'uri Agricultural Report. 



Control must in time come from within, not from without. To sub- 

 jugate the will is in accordance with the old idea that the child is born 

 with all evil tendencies that must be suppressed. If you are going to 

 save a child, suppress all natural instincts. Teach him to stand aloof 

 from the world and worldly amusements, to be serious, to devote his 

 time to introspection. Teach him to be good. 



The idea of today is, be master of youfself, live right, be joj^ous, 

 give yourself to the world to make it better and happier. Do good. 

 Self expression instead of suppression. The science of today teaches 

 us that the child of today comes of a long line of ancestors who were 

 fit to survive ; that the individuals of the race who have had tendencies 

 that were detrimental to life, have been eliminated. The instincts and 

 tendencies that we find in the child are principally good, and make 

 for life. Then in training the child, should we not take into account 

 the natural tendencies of the child, and direct them, not suppress them. 



The play instinct is the most pronounced instinct in the child. 

 The old system of education suppressed the play instinct, until we 

 have many grown people who do not Imow how to play. Today, play 

 is being utilized, not only in training the young, but in preserving 

 youth in adults. The whole world is seeking leisure in which to play. 

 The playground movement, athletics, sports of all kinds for both young 

 and old are indications that the play instinct is being fostered. We 

 need play that we may have ability to work. A child is fortunate to 

 have parents who have not lost the play instinct — parents who can enter 

 into his life with enthusiasm and play with him occasionally. He can- 

 not come to our plane of thought; we mAist get on the plane of his in- 

 terests. \Ye can sing with him, we can dance with him, we can play 

 ■games. Through songs and games we can give him ideals that are 

 worthy, and that he will work over into his life. 



Thus far we have considered the child and his training in rather a 

 general way. We wish now to specialize and consider the training of 

 the child through play. Every healthy child is bubbling over with en- 

 ergy and enthusiasm which comes from within, and has an outward 

 expression in his play. The amount of play there is in a child is the 

 measure of his vitality, of his health. When a child ceases to play we 

 know that he is not feeling well, that his vital forces are below par. 

 If a child is sick, the best indication that he is getting well is his desire 

 to play; often this desire is seen before he has the strength to exert 

 himself. The child from birth is perpetual motion, when he is awake. 

 He wiggles and squirms, throws his hands and feet ; he coos and laughs. 

 This is his exercise, his play. Then he crawls, and walks, and pounds. 

 As his strength increases he runs, he jumps, he throws, he shouts and 



