Rural School Leaflet. 8oi 



and thus helping to check the depopulation of our farming districts. 

 In this connection we hope also to describe a number of games and pleas- 

 ure-giving occupations, simply stated and illustrated with diagrams or 

 pictures when necessan,-. 



A WORD ABOUT PLAYGROUNDS 



Of course every community should have one or more playgrounds or 

 play areas. Indeed every school and every church should have its 

 adjoining playground. The little village of New Paltz, N. Y. has seven 

 play areas, varying in size from one-fourth of an acre to several acres. 

 Do not think that large, expensively laid out fields are necessary. If 

 nothing more can be found than a little space on which to have a sandpile 

 and a swing or two, start with that. The country road can be pressed 

 into service and it is surprising how many places the children will 

 eventually discover, if they have a little encouragement from adults. 

 It must be remembered that the little folks must have a place of their 

 own, and that girls must have a place where they can play apart from 

 the boys. 



SUPERVISION 



Supervision and refereeirrg are essential where apparatus is used or 

 where a considerable number of children play together. One or more 

 adults in each community will have to learn how to supervise intelli- 

 gently. Women frequently make better supervisors than men. Every 

 school teacher should know how to teach plays and games as well as the 

 three Rs. An adequate system of plays is simply impossible unless the 

 older members of the community are ready to do their share. 



SOME GOOD OUTDOOR AND INDOOR GAMES 



Let us now proceed to describe a few good games. We will start 

 with two outdoor games: Prisoner's Base and Volley Ball; then describe 

 two games (which can be played outdoors or indoors): Indoor Base Ball, 

 and Relay Games; and finally speak of an indoor amusement for young 

 and old on rainy days. 



PRISONER'S BASE 



This is a game that may be played by all above say seven years of age. 



The play area may be a wide road, or a fair-sized space in a field. Uneven- 



ess of ground or the presence of a few trees need not disturb you. Lay it 



out as shown in the accompanving diagram, using for the lines slacked 



26 



