It should be fully appreciated by teachers, parents and superintendents that the playing of these games is not “mere play,” but definite training of the best kind. In many cases there is little else to be done.

Here are some games that you can try.

BASEBALL BOWLING : MATERIAL

Two dozen bright colored blocks, six colored baseballs. Colors: Red, blue and yellow.

Draw a chalk circle three feet in diameter ; make a starting line fifteen feet from the circle.

Place the blocks on end inside the circle, not too closely together.

Call upon a child, have her stand on starting line and bowl the balls one at a time, endeavoring to knock down as many blocks as possible.

Continue the exercise in this way having the children play in turn.

Choose one child to pick up the fallen blocks, and another to pick up scattered balls.

OBJECT

To develop sureness of aim; attention; natural activity.

SILENCE PERIOD

It is very important that a period of silence be maintained from three to five minutes during one hour classes.

Have the children sit with arms folded and knees close together, each child erect in his seat. Have perfect quiet in the classroom.

Do not allow the silence to become tense and strained, the object of the exercise is tranquillity and rest.

Teachers will find after a period of silence children lose their restlessness and concentrate more readily.

OBJECT

Rest; attention; tranquillity.

BLOCK PLACING : MATERIAL

Wooden blocks of one color, according to number of children playing.

Make a line of small chalk crosses on the floor twelve inches between each cross ; draw a starting line parallel with crosses, eighteen feet between.

Give each child a block and have them stand in position on starting line.

At a given signal have children run and place their blocks each on one of the crosses; they then run back to starting line.

The blocks must be placed on end upon the crosses; should a block fall, the child must place it upright again.

This exercise may be repeated three or four consecutive times.

OBJECT

Muscular control; attention; to stimulate the spirit of play; voluntary activity.

COLOR EXERCISE : MATERIAL

Six bright colored balls two red, two blue, two yellow.

Place three balls on the table, one of eacK color, teacher holding the duplicates.

Hold up the red ball that all may see it, and call upon A to pick out ball of same color on the table. When A has picked out red ball, teacher should then hold up blue ball, and call upon B to find duplicate. Do not call the balls by color name.

The child will develop color sense more quickly if name of color is omitted at this period of training.

OBJECT

Color sense ; attention ; independent thought.