Part 4 (1/2)
[Illustration: Small wooden toy]
FLOOR TOYS
The ”Do-with Toys” shown in the acconed by Miss Caroline Pratt soenerally felt by devotees of the play laboratory of a consistent series of toys to be used with floor blocks For if theenerally available in Mr Wells' boyhood, the sa and stocking the resulting farms and communities that develop
Mr Wells tells us that for his floor gaet--we know the kind, the lion s the co officer Such coenerations and play of the kind Mr Wells describes goes on in spite of the inconsistency of the materials supplied
[Illustration: S such play, and developing its possibilities for educational ends, the question arises whether this is the best provision that can be made, or if the traditionalblocks are being improved
[Illustration: Small wooden toy]
A few pioneers have been experi in this field for some years past No one of the them opinion is unanimous that constructive play is stimulated by an initial supply of consistent play est supplementary play material of a kind children can manufacture for themselves
[Illustration: Small wooden toy]
Blocks are of course the most important type of initial enerally accepted hypothesis is embodied in the ”Do-with” series which provides, first a doll family of proportions suited to block houses, then a set of farned on the sah to be copied at the bench, and suggesting, each set after its kind, a host of supplementary toys, limited in variety and in numbers only by the experience of the child concerned and by his ability to construct them
[Illustration: Small wooden toy]
[Illustration: Small wooden toy]
[Illustration: S hypothesis for the selection of toys is as yet but little understood either by those who buy or those who sell play materials
The commercial dealer declares with truth that there is too little de such a series on the market Not only does he refuse to make ”Do-withs” but he provides no adequate substitutes
His wooden toys are merely wooden ornaments without relation to any series and without playability, immobile, reasonless, for the philosophy of the play laboratory is quite unknown to the uided almost entirely by convention and have no better standard by which to estimate what constitutes their money's worth
[Illustration: Small wooden toy]
On the other hand enthusiasts raise the question, why supply any toys?
Is it not better for children toready for play is mistaken for play itself”
[Illustration: Small wooden toy]
[Illustration: S ready” kills real play, and if our purpose is to foster and enrich the actual activity, we must understand the subtle value of initial play s of play impulse the necessary foundation stones on which a superstructure of improvisation can be reared
[Illustration: Transportation Toys]
[Illustration: A trunk line]
When by hook or crook the devotees of floor games have secured a population and live stock for their block communities, then, as Mr
Wells reminds us, comes commerce and in her wake transportation probleenius of the laboratory
Simple transportation toys are the next need, and suitable ones can generally, though not always, be obtained in the shops A feell-chosen pieces for initial -lock” or bench-made contrivances