Loïs Bates

“ At the word 'stand' the child in the centre rises to her feet, and when the rhyme [74] is ended she chooses a child to take her place in the centre and returns to the ring. All the children stand still while the choice is being made. ”

“ The children join hands and stand round to form a 'house' and 'garden' (see diagram) . A space is left for the gateway of the 'garden.' For 'door' of house see Frontispiece.
In the 'house' stands one of the bigger girls to represent the 'mother,' and there should also be a little chair, and a doll's cradle with a doll in it. [33]
In the 'garden' eight or ten children are engaged in playing a game. ”

“ As soon as any child sees the thimble, he takes a seat and remains quite still until all the seekers have seen it, and each in turn has sat down. Then the child who first saw the thimble takes it from its hiding-place, and has the privilege of remaining behind to hide it next time. Different children should go out each time, so that all may have a turn. [68] ”

“ The streets may be made by the children themselves standing in rows, as in the preceding game; or if the space available be small, the children may stand round the room, while the plan of the streets is chalked on the floor. There should be one central street, with others branching out of it right and left, and each should be named. It may be possible to arrange and name the streets of some district with which the children are familiar. The name of each should be written on a card and placed at the end of the street. The accompanying diagram will illustrate the playing of the game. ”

“ Grandma's 'house' is made by a ring of children (see Frontispiece, and description of same on p. 31) , and the girl who is to be 'Grandma' sits in the ring knitting. An old-fashioned kerchief and cap help to make the 'grandma' more real, and a pair of spectacles adds further to the [52] effect. If the 'coach' game be used in conjunction with this, the little girls may be the 'passengers' and go in the 'coach' to grandma's house. ”

“ The children who do not know the game will probably omit to pass the stick into the left hand; as each one tries to do the trick, the teacher says 'right' or 'wrong' as the case may be, and those who are wrong are told to notice particularly how the teacher does it. ”

“ The last child caught starts the game again, or the completed 'chain' may form a ring and play one of the ring games, Nos. 40, 41, 42.
50. MOTHER, MAY WE GO OUT TO PLAY?
One corner of the playground may be the 'house' in which the 'mother' sits. If the game is played by the children elsewhere, they will probably mark out the shape of the 'house' on the ground with stones or pebbles, a practice of which they are very fond. The children come to the 'house' where the 'mother' sits, and standing in front of her, ask:—
Children: Mother, may we go out and play? ”

“ At the commencement of the game the children stand in a large ring, and the girl who is to be 'Lame lassie' stands in the centre. The children then say:—
Now Lame lassie give us chase,
Get one quick to fill your place.
They all run off, and 'Lame lassie' follows until she manages to touch some other child. Wherever the latter is touched, she must place her hand on that [73] particular spot and run after the others until she is successful in reaching some one else. Sometimes a child will be holding its shoulder or elbow, or it may have to hold up one leg and hop on the other. ”

“ When the scholars have learnt to distinguish the pound, ounce, &c., they may come out in turn and weigh various objects.
It would be well to explain that solid objects occupy less room than lighter substances—that a pound of feathers, e.g., would take up a large space, while a pound of lead would go into a very small compass.
Guessing Game.—When the object to be weighed has been chosen, a number of children are allowed to come out and hold it in turn, and say what they think is its weight. ”

“ The teacher should first show how to tie the bow by passing her ribbon round the neck or wrist of a child, and performing the various movements as they are mentioned in the rhymes and shown in the illustrations. This should be done [15] several times very slowly, the words being repeated either by teacher only or by all. When the children begin to tie the ribbon each round its own book, the teacher should show the various movements as they occur, performing them simultaneously with the scholars. ”

“ If the ball is not caught, the child who was called picks it up and runs after the other children until she manages to hit some one with it. The child who is hit picks up the ball and all return to the starting place. The lines are again repeated and the game proceeds as before. ”

“ Preliminary.—Everyone knows how fond children are of representing ideas by action. It is for this reason that charades are recommended here. It will, of course, be necessary for the teacher to assist and suggest, but the children soon acquire confidence, and their acting, being perfectly natural, is often remarkably good. ”

“ The streets (p. 26) of Game No. 12 may be utilised for this game. The children should have on their hats and caps, and walk along the streets. The game is intended to teach them how to behave when walking; they should keep to the right, not speak loudly, and the boys should raise their caps when they meet anyone who acknowledges them.
When the game is fairly started, the two verses which follow may be repeated by all the children:
Keep always to the right
When in the street you walk,
And please remember this—
Do not too loudly talk.
We must not stare at folks,
Or turn to look behind ”

“ A ring we make round Summer sweet,
Oh Summer, Summer, thee we greet:
[59] [All bow.]
For bright and happy is our play
All through the livelong Summer day.
The 'Flowers' then dance round 'Summer.'
31. THE THREE BEARS
This game may be played either in the home, schoolroom or classroom. The words should be learnt previously as a recitation.
Materials required.—Three mugs or basins of various sizes, with a spoon in each; three stools or chairs of various sizes, and three beds. The latter may be made by laying shawls or coats on the forms or floor. ”

“ The children should see leaves from each tree, and country children should be shown the trees themselves with the leaves growing on them. The 'den' of the 'fox' is at the edge of the 'forest,' and is made by ten children standing as shown in fig. 3. The four children who form the entrance join hands as shown, and the other six meet hands in centre. A better way of making the den would be for each child to hold a branch of a tree, then the branches would meet instead of the hands. The children who stand for 'trees' in the 'forest' wave branches, if the latter are obtainable ”

“ This is a favourite game and can be played with very little noise. At home, all [67] the children would go out of the room except the one who remains behind to hide the thimble, but when played in the school or classroom, it will be sufficient if six children are sent out. ”

“ For notes on these, see p. 87.
'Games for the Playground' and a few of those immediately preceding are old games with new rhymes.
It is hoped that some of the plays (Nos. [vi] 12 to 20, e.g.) will help to teach the children important truths that are difficult for them to learn in the abstract, but which represented and practised in childish play may make an impression on their plastic little minds. Many of the Games are suitable for home use, and will probably be played there by the children after being learnt in school. ”

“ The 'horses' should not go very quickly, else the 'coach' will probably lose its shape. The 'passengers' walk along with the 'coach' until their destination is reached, when the 'driver' opens the door and allows them to alight. ”

“ This game may be used for a class of children, or for a few only. In the former case, the majority of the scholars would, of course, be lookers-on.
Half a dozen boys and girls should be playing in different parts of the room; one might be drawing, another building, and a third looking at a picture-book; or they might all be joining to play a game together. ”

“ Place thimble on proper finger.
9. SEWING GAME
(N.B. In this game, as in No. 8, the teacher, as she faces the scholars, should use her left hand each time the children use the right.)
If the children have been taught the use of the thimble (Game No. 8) , they should wear it during this game. [18]
Teacher
Little children, clean and bright,
Show your [1] left hand, show your [2] right,
[3] Left forefinger, that will do,
[4] Place your sewing round it, so.
[5] Needle in your right hand hold,
All should do just what is told ”

“ The cups and saucers are brought on a tray, and placed in rows at one end of the table.
Verse 3. One child brings plates on a tray and places them one by one round the table, while another follows with serviettes on a small tray, and places one to the right of each plate. ”

“ We cluster round the 'Spring,'
[All the Flowers bow.]
We follow in her train.
[Flowers turn to right.]
'Spring' marches round inside the larger ring, and the 'Flowers' follow in order.
30. SUMMER FLOWERS
This game is played like the game of 'Spring Flowers' (see instructions on p. 56) . [58]
The girl chosen to represent 'Summer' may repeat the verse given in Guessing Rhyme No. 75, p. 95, and then the 'Flowers' step forward as their names are mentioned in the rhymes which follow. ”

“ The children stand in a ring, or sit round the room, one child standing in the middle. The handkerchief is thrown from one to another, and the one who is 'out' tries to find a child with the handkerchief in its hand. ”

“ A boy who has picked it up advances and offers it to the lady, at the same time raising his cap, and the lady says 'Thank you.' The game may be continued at the teacher's discretion, and the verses again repeated.
14. DRESSING CHILDREN
About a dozen of the older children stand in the centre of the room, and a number of the little ones come in with coat and hat in hand. The older children repeat the verse:
Ready for the babies stand,
See they come with hat in hand.
Bigger children always should
To little ones be kind and good. ”

“ The above game may be played in conjunction with Nos. 25, 26 and 27. [50]
25. THE STABLE
This game may be played immediately after 'The Coach,' or it may be played alone.
Directions.—The 'stable' is formed by a number of children who stand in rows (see diagram) and join hands.
The 'hostler' (a boy) should stand near the 'stable.' When the 'coach' (Game No. 24, p. 48) drives up, he goes to the driver and asks:
Hostler
Shall I take your horses for a rest and feed? ”

“ Then the spoon in saucer quietly must go.
3. When you eat and drink, dears, do not make a noise,
[4] Pass things to each other, little girls and boys.
[If there is a piano in school, a little music
might be played while breakfast is in progress.]
4. When we finish breakfast, [5] hands in lap lay we,
Elbows on the table, that should never be!
NOTES:
[1] Fold hands and bow head.
[2] Stir coffee.
[3] Place spoon in saucer. ”