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UDOC L 5.20:44 U. S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR CHILDREN’S BUREAU JULIA C LATHROP. Chief AF^ CHILDREN’S YEAR 6 ^919 6 PATRIOTIC PLAY WEEK SUGGESTIONS TO LOCAL CHILDWELFARE COMMITTEES Q C H IL D R E N 'S Y E A R L E A F L E T N O . 4 Bureau Publication No. 44 PREPARED IN COLLABORATION WITH THE CHILD WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF THE WOMAN'S COMMITTEE COUNCIL OF NATIONAL DEFENSE and THE PLAYGROUND AND RECREATION ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA W ASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1918 Êr https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis CHILDREN’ S YEAR SUGGESTIONS FOR PATRIOTIC P LA Y W EEK , , “ To 'provide recreation fo r children and youth abundant decent protected from any form o f exploitation , The primary purpose o f the Recreation Drive, o f which Patriotic Play Week is the culminating feature, is to increase physical vigor among the children o f the United States. It is hoped to do this through the cooperation o f organizations promoting wartime ac tivities which require physical strength and skill, and other activities which are equally important in peace and war. Among these or ganizations are the War Gardens of the United States Bureau of Education, the Junior Red Cross, and the Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs of the Department of Agriculture, and various athletic organizations for children and youth. The Recreation Drive aims to promote the games which increase physical adeptness and skill, which train the eye, and develop the ability to respond instantly not only to the direction o f the leader but to the need o f the game. One purpose of the Drive must be to im plant in the minds of the children the idea that keeping themselves fit is patriotic, and that they are serving their country when they makes themselves stronger. Indiana has adopted for the Recreation Drive the slogan, “ For a Stronger America.” ORGANIZATION The committee’s first work in getting ready for Patriotic Play Week is to discover all the organizations in the community which are already at work to protect children’s leisure-time activities, and so to enlist their interest as to make the Patriotic Play Week truly a demonstration of'all'th at the community is doing to provide for its children’s activities. The committee will wish to arrange especially for the participation o f local recreational organizations. It will need to learn whether there are representatives who can be called upon to demonstrate the work o f such organizations as the Boy Scouts, Gamp Fire Girls, Girl 72481 °— 18 https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (3) 4 Scouts, The Junior Membership Bureau o f the American Red Cross, The Drama League of America, The Amateur Athletic Union o f the United States, Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs o f the United States Depart ment of Agriculture, The Community Chorus Movement, The War Gardens of the United States Bureau o f Education, The Story Tel lers’ League, The Educational Drama League, The American Folk Dance Society, The Playground and Recreation Association of America. The addresses, of these organizations are given on the last page of this leaflet. An exhibit of the work of some of the organizations, such, for ex ample, as the Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs, is an already well-established custom each year; and the members of the clubs plan their work throughout the summer with the purpose o f showing it at the autumn exhibit. . I f there are no suitable organizations already existing, games for the athletic badge tests may be developed under the leadership of in dividuals who are interested in seeing that the leisure time of the children in their community is protected. DATE. The first week in September has been suggested for Patriotic Play Week, but it may be more advantageous in some communities to select another date—for instance: 1. The week during which a county fair, grange, bush meeting, or other community gathering is to take place, that the Play Week’s exhibit of what the community can do for its children’s leisure time may be part o f such a neighborhood meeting. 2. A single Saturday or series o f Saturdays—possibly during Octo ber, when the schools are in session—with the purpose of enlisting the interest of the teachers. In any event, the date should be chosen in accordance with the needs and convenience of each community. / . I f it is determined to hold the Week’s celebration in connection with a county fair or other gathering, the manager of the fair should be consulted and arrangements for space and hours made for the Play Week exhibit. ' The exhibit would attract many mothers and fathers to the fair because of their desire to see what their children are doing. I f the Week is not to be held in connection with any other community event, much the same plan for the Play Week may still be followed. The Week in any case will have to be varied to utilize the special resources of each locality. In some communities a briefer period than a week may be determined upon. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis PROGRAM SUGGESTIONS. The Patriotic Play Week gives an opportunity for the children to show what games and other leisure-time activities have done or may do for them. T h e i r e x h ib it may take several form s: x. A T H L E T IC BADGE TESTS OF P H Y SIC A L EFFICIENCY. The athletic badge tests might be arranged as a simplified field meet would be. They are offered as a practicable way of testing the physical vigor of boys and girls. They might take place on a stated day during the Play Week. The boys and girls who pass them be come eligible for a special certificate—the first in a series of three offered for successive and increasingly difficult tests, to be given at intervals of a year. Certificates may be secured free of charge from the Playground and Recreation Association of America for each child who passes the tests. Descriptions of the tests may be secured from the Child Welfare Department, Woman’s Committee, Council of National Defense, Washington, D. C. Fuller directions for conduct ing them may be secured by writing to the Playground and Recrea tion Association of America, 1 Madison Avenue, New York, N. Y., for their pamphlets called “ Badge Tests.” An excellent means of stimulating the children’s interest in keep ing strong and in increasing their physical vigor is to repeat these badge tests from time to time, giving an opportunity to the children who are unable to pass them at first to take the tests again 6 weeks or 90 days later. I f it is possible to plan for such progressive tests, the children should be informed, and urged to play the games which will increase the likelihood of their passing the tests. Directions for playing certain good games, which have direct Value in promoting physical vigor, will be sent free on application to the Playground and Recreation Association of America. There are many additional ways in which recreation may be utilized to cultivate physical vigor- The Boy Scouts, for example, do many things which increase the boys’ health. Members o f such athletic organizations, whether national or local, should have espe cially good chances o f passing the physical tests; and their work should be promoted as part of the Recreation Drive. 2. E X H IB IT S OF TH E W O R K OF TH E B O Y SCOUTS, CAMP FIR E GIRLS, AND G IR L SCOUTS. The special drills, the first-aid demonstrations, and other char acteristic requirements o f these organizations enable their members to make peculiarly definite and attractive demonstrations o f what the organizations mean. Demonstrations o f their special war-time https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 6 activities would be especially appropriate. Preparation for these exhibitions should constitute a large part o f the summer’s play. For further information consult: Boy Scouts of America, 200 Fifth Avenue, New York, N. Y. ; Gamp Fire Girls, 31 East Seven teenth Street, New York, N. Y .; and Girls Scouts o f America, 527 Fifth Avenue, New York, N. Y. 3. E X H IB IT S OF THINGS M ADE AND RAISED. (1) The Junior Red Cross auxiliaries may well be called upon to conduct a section o f the exhibit in which they can show the things they make, knit, and sew for the soldiers, sailors, and refugees. In formation about these auxiliaries can be obtained from local Red Cross Chapter School Committees. (2) The Canning Clubs o f the United States Department of Agri culture will undoubtedly have plans for special exhibits o f goods they have preserved and dried in the Nation-wide effort to conserve food ; and demonstrations of their methods, at some time during the autumn, are probably contemplated. In many places these exhibits may be planned for the same time as Play Week. The Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs of the United States Department o f Agriculture are represented on the Advisory Committee on the Rec reation Drive, and their leaders are interested in securing better recreation for the club members and in seeing that provision is made for organized play and games such as those contemplated in prepara tion for Play Week. It is expected that many clubs will wish tohold their exhibits and demonstrations in connection with Play Week, thus making it possible to show the various ways in which the community is providing for the leisure time ,of the children. The great need o f the work which these clubs are doing will make their exhibit particularly timely. (3) Stock and Poultry Raising Clubs should be asked to enter their chickens, calves, and pigs in another exhibit. Information about both the Canning Clubs and the Stock and Poultry Raising Clubs may be secured for the Northern and Western States from Mr. O. H. Benson, and for the Southern States from Mr. O. B. Martin, both to be addressed at the Extension Work, States Relation Service, United States Department of Agriculture. 4. PAG EAN TRY, FO LK DANCES, AND MUSIC. (1) A fitting climax of the entire summer’s effort would be a pageant staged on the last day of Patriotic Play Week. This might be made doubly .effective if staged at the county fair. It might begin with a procession or a moving exhibit o f all results accom plished, from a given point to a position in front o f the grand stand, https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis > 7 where, with symbolic characters participating and the real char acters forming a background, a brief drama might be enacted, con secrating both effort and resources to Columbia and the cause of human freedom. (2) Folk dances of different countries might be given to advan tage in many communities, and the children would enjoy getting together to practice them. Assistance in planning folk dances may be secured from Miss Elizabeth Burchenal, American Folk Dance Society, 2790 Broadway, New York, N. Y. (3) The patriotic appeal of the new songs is strong; and many singing or glee clubs and bands will, it is hoped, be started during the Recreation Drive. People like to get together and sing, and they should be urged to form definite groups to provide the music at the Play Week celebrations. In several States directors of com munity singing have been appointed under the State Councils of Defense, whose cooperation in Play Week will be valuable. It may be desirable to have a song contest among different choruses and glee clubs; between the boys and girls who have formed themselves into bands and orchestras. Perhaps original patriotic songs might be composed by some one in the clubs and rendered as the musical contribution to the exhibit. In one State an effort is being made to organize penny whistle clubs among the little boys who otherwise might be idling on the streets. (4) At the 1918 State Fair in Washington there is planned an exhibit of simple toys suitable for children o f different ages and o f •homemade play apparatus. Such an exhibit might well be made a feature of the Play Week. Demonstrations o f certain games for .young children might be given—for example, work in sand boxes, and floor games. In this connection, the sections on outdoor and ■indoor play in “ Child Care ” will be helpful.1 Some clubs or organizations o f women might be asked to take charge of serving meals at the exhibit if that seems desirable. It should be possible in this way to defray at least part of the ex penses o f the Week. AWARDS. SomiTO^^^^^^Ih^|Ma,.mve awards for each one of the exhibits outlin ed iVetej'Yp;!^ to hold. In that case a care fully selected j-iidBWfejjwiA. of course, have to be appointed. The in g e m m ^ ^ y lo ^ fe p ^ ^ fte e s would determine the awards—possibly different cpK «® ^ ^ ^ w is might be used. In any case the prizes should not be elaborate nor expensive. 1 Child Care, by Mrs. Max W est, may be secured free of charge from the Children’s Bu reau, United States Department of Labor, W ashington, D. C. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 8 When the Recreation Committee has surveyed the resources o f its community for recreation it will be able to choose which o f these exhibits it will wish to undertake. Local talent will doubtless be able to invent other demonstrations particularly adapted to the com munity’s special abilities. In each exhibit some one person should be made responsible for seeing that everything is made ready, and that the children are col lected and prepared to do their parts on time. But above all, that person and every member of the committee should see that all the children who take part in the exhibit enjoy what they do; that they find real fun in getting ready; that they do outdoor things, and prac tice outdoors; that in every way the preparation itself counts as pro tection of their leisure time. LIST OF ORGANIZATIONS FROM WHOM ADVICE CAN BE SECURED. Amateur Athletic Union of the United States, 290 Broadway, New York, N. Y. American Folk Dance Society, 2790 Broadway, New York, N. Y. American Red Cross, Bureau of Junior Membership, Washington, D. C. Boy Scouts of America, 200 Fifth Avenue, New York, N. Y. Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs, Cooperative Extension Work, United States Depart ment of Agriculture, Washington, D. C. Camp Fire Girls, 31 East Seventeenth Street, New York, N. Y. Drama League o f America, 306 Riggs Building, Washington, D. C. ' Educational Drama League, 105 West Fortieth Street, New York, N. Y. Girl Scouts of America, 527 Fifth Avenue, New York, N. Y. National Story Tellers’ League, 3 Kennedy Street, NW., Washington, D. G. : New York Community Chorus—Mr. Harry Barnhart, 2410 Webb Avenue, New York, N. Y. Playground and Recreation Association of America, 1 Madison Avenue, New York, N. Y. United States School Garden Army, United States Bureau of Education* Washington, D. C. o https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis