712 



PARKS 



PLATE No. 270 

 SAILBOATS CONSTRUCTED BY DETROIT BOYS 



activities the athletic games and sports; the musical, dramatic and social 

 interests. The constructive impulse the desire to create is given full 



scope through the handcraft pro- 

 gram. The environmental and 

 scientific interest which finds ex- 

 pression in a growing knowledge 

 of nature is given its opportu- 

 nity, and linguistic interests rep- 

 resented in story-telling, public 

 discussions and similar activities 

 are a part of the program. 



CHILDREN'S PLAYGROUNDS 



The program of the chil- 

 dren's playground represents a 

 composite of all the essential 

 elements entering into the com- 

 munity recreation program outlined, with adaptations to the particular 

 needs of children. Activities range from team games of low organization 

 to the more specialized forms of athletic tournaments and include small 

 children's activities, ring games, singing games and similar events for which 

 the leadership of a skilled kindergarten teacher is well qualified; story-tell- 

 ing, handcraft, dramatics, music and similar activities. 



The minimum staff for caring for any standard size playground should 

 be one man and one woman, 

 although on a very small play- 

 ground one person, preferably a 

 well-trained woman, should be 

 able to cope with the situation. 

 A woman is better than a man 

 in directing the activities of little 

 children, and in many instances 

 she will be equally successful 

 with the activities of the boy 

 from ten to twelve years of age. 

 It is always desirable for workers 

 to be employed on a year-round 

 basis whenever this is possible. 

 Only in this way can fully com- 

 petent workers be secured, all the benefits of play centers assured and con- 

 tinuity of interest and growth brought about. Sometimes, in connection 



PLATE No. 271 

 A STILT CONTEST IN EVANSTON, ILLINOIS 



