To Amuse Baby

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Mar 17, 1904

A BABY will be attracted for a short time by some fine toy that he can simply look at, but he will spend ten times as long in putting pegs into holes in a board contrived for the purpose, or in taking out, one by one, from a well-filled basket articles, no matter what—spools, blocks, clothes-pegs—anything, so that they are sometimes changed and he does not tire of the monotony. Then the task of putting them all back keeps him busy for a still longer time. As baby becomes more discerning and his fingers more nimble, a pleasing device for his employment is a board with variously shaped holes—round, square, triangular, etc.—with blocks and spheres to fit into the various places. Should these be in bright colors, his love for color may also be gratified, and learning these colors soon follows. Little tasks of carrying articles from one portion of the room to another, or from room to room, will often keep the child busy and interested for hours. A small hammer and tacks, with a good soft board into which to drive them, is generally a delight to any child old enough not to put the tacks into his mouth.

So simple are the employments that will satisfy the little tot, that almost any mother will find them constantly suggesting themselves.—Selected.