28 The Rural Home and Character Development 



benefits of play and to the present need for larger 

 means and fuller opportunities for play on the part 

 of the masses of children. As an outcome of all this 

 research and public agitation, there is now in progress 

 a general movement which looks to the placing at 

 the disposal of children everywhere the equipment 

 and apparatus necessary for building up the charac- 

 ter by means of play experience. The large cities 

 are expending millions of dollars on municipal play- 

 grounds, and the towns and rural communities are 

 catching the spirit also. 



It has been shown beyond a question that adult 

 life can be prepared for and enriched in many ways 

 by means of scientifically provided play during child- 

 hood. Two or three results are especially sought 

 through the playground training: (1) better physical 

 health and increased power to resist disease ; (2) en- 

 larged opportunities for the outlet of the spontaneous 

 activities through the use of the hands and other 

 parts of the body; (3) the provision of a powerful 

 deterrent of evil thought and deed and of juvenile 

 crime; (4) the manifold opportunities for learning 

 how to get along with one's fellows and to treat them 

 in fairness and justice. 



It has already been urged that sound health con- 

 stitutes one of the foundation stones of good char- 

 acter. Play is especially conducive to sound health. 

 Some may think that work without much if any 

 play will bring about the same results in the child 



