Chapter Seven

"BANG! BANG!" yells a little toddler, fully equipped with Stetson hat, cowboy boots and chaps -- waving two six-guns in the general direction of a playmate. "Bang! Bang!" shouts his playful opponent, bedecked with glittering two-gun holsters and badge.

Adults chuckle to themselves, as they see their little children imitating their favorite TV heroes -- they don't see any harm in it -- the boys are "just playing."

But what about children's play? What kind of games should children play? What kind of toys should they use? Where should they play, and with whom? Can play possibly be harmful? Can it be used as a teaching method?

Few parents give adequate thought to the kinds of toys their children have and the effect of toys on future physical, mental and character development.

How many times have you read or heard of tragic accidents involving firearms?

How many of those times were those accidents involving children?

Perhaps you have heard of a great many -- because they occur almost daily. Little toddlers, barely able to walk, are often equipped by naive parents with various types of potentially harmful toys -- including guns -- and are busily pretending to kill one another.

In hundreds of cases, little children have been allowed freely to play with "toys" which are, in some cases, difficult to distinguish from the real thing. As a result, when playing with a real gun, they have shot their own brothers, sisters, playmates, or even their own parents.

Today there are thousands of different varieties of modern, gleaming, beautifully designed and fantastic electronic gadgets and toys available for children.

But perhaps no toy will excite the imagination of little toddlers (especially boys!) as a gun.

Today's toy stores display dozens of models and varieties, all the way from a tiny replica of a cowboy's six shooter right up to a deadly looking submachine gun that "shoots real bullets." Complete with some of these sets will come even electronic gadgets such as real-life targets in the shape of a man, which will fall over when struck, and then spring back up to be shot at again.

And what a pity! What a pity it is that naive and gullible parents seemingly take for granted or carelessly assume whatever is manufactured and produced, and therefore offered for sale designed "for children," must be all right for their children to use.

Why the furor over guns? Simply because guns are not for children! One especially sickening example was that of a nine- or ten-year-old boy who had been allowed to play with toy guns freely, and who was playing in the upstairs bedroom of his parents' home while guests were visiting in the living room downstairs. The grandchild of one of the guests, a sweet, pretty little five-year-old girl, and a cousin of the boy upstairs, started to go upstairs to find out what her cousin was doing. However, the boy upstairs had found several rifles in a closet, which were war trophies his father had brought home from overseas.

As the little girl's head appeared at the top of the landing, the guests downstairs were startled out of their chairs by a loud roar, a series of sickening thumps, and were shocked to complete unbelief and incomprehension at the sight of what had once been a sweet, living, five year-old girl lying in a sickening huddle at the bottom of the stairs. She had been shot through the head.

"I didn't mean it!" sobbed the boy -- "I was only playing!"

Who really was the culprit in this case? The misguided boy who had been allowed to freely shoot at his playmates with toy guns all his life? The boy who didn't know a real gun from a toy anyhow had never been taught about guns -- and who had been allowed free access to his father's guns? Or the parents, who in the first place had never taught their child a healthy respect and fear for guns -- their proper usage and proper place -- and had never taught their child he should never point any kind of gun at anyone under any circumstances at any time -- the parents who had left loaded guns in the closet?

What about it?

Is it really right, by any stretch of the imagination, for a child to play with toy guns at any time?

Today the gun ranks as the biggest seller of the toy line! Matched six-guns of the Cowboy and Indian era are often slung low on the hips of a four-year-old outfitted in a space helmet holding a death-ray gun leveled at your midsection. Most popular was the fad of secret-agent weapons of the 007 ilk. Transistor radios, fountain pens, attache cases suddenly transformed into fantastic death dealers at the touch of a kiddie's finger.

Guns are for killing. If you don't intend to kill -- don't use a gun -- the real thing or an imitation!

A great deal of space has already been consumed regarding the habits of children in mimicking things they see and hear.

A great deal of time has also been spent discussing the tremendous pressures of a berserk modern society plunging toward its own oblivion. However, a good deal more needs to be said about the pressures of society from the comics, books, movies, and especially the television.

Need it be repeated again that the "children's hours" on television are truly some of the most monstrously frightening, hideously sadistic, ghastly shows to be found at any hour?

As mentioned, surveys have been made to determine the number of shootings, knifings, strangulations, occurrences of rape, armed assaults, muggings, beatings, and other sadistic forms of torture, such as burning humans alive, grinding them to bits in machinery, or driving over them with speeding cars and trucks that appear during the "children's hours." The results were shocking.

Even the cartoons -- supposedly "harmless" short little skits that are apparently hilariously funny to children -- are not exempt from terribly damaging forms of violence.

In a cartoon, one character can be chasing another, shooting anything from a huge cannon to a small gun, and if the other character does not outrun the bullets, he apparently never suffers any ill effects. An explosion? Perhaps the cat is standing bereft of his fur, looking like a charred match stick with a hideous expression on his face in one hilariously funny scene, but in the very next scene he is completely equipped with fur and a grin on his face again as he chases the mouse. He has apparently suffered no harm from being blown up.

From this, little children "learn" that there is no real harm in shooting a person, knifing a person, or even blowing him to bits in an explosion.

A little toddler, allowed to handle a gun in a store, turned and shot his mother in the stomach. A look of incredibility crossed his face when he saw the slowly spreading pool of blood, and the writhing body of his mother on the floor! He simply couldn't comprehend it. Hadn't "other people" in the TV shows and movies he'd always seen, gotten up and run about just as actively as before?

What about it? Do your children play with guns? Do you allow your children to vicariously kill one another and do it all "in fun"?

If you do -- it's time to take stock. It's time to think really seriously, and to think about the play habits of your children.

Let us analyze just what a child does when he plays with a gun. In general he pretends to shoot and kill human beings. He uses his vivid imagination. But not in the right way!

His imagination is used to "kill" vicariously. It is not used to create, plan, or build. It is not used to organize. And he is not learning anything constructive.

He is just aimlessly wasting hours -- playing. His play has no meaning. It is not constructive. And in the cases where he is pretending to kill -- it is extremely destructive.

How can parents avoid these evils? How can they use wisdom in purchasing toys which will create a constructive rather than destructive influence on their children?

Toys are a child's tools for learning. They can help him develop his mind and character. They can also help him develop his body and personality.

The development of your child's body, mind, personality and character should be foremost in your thoughts when choosing a toy for your child.

Look at this spectacle.

A parent walks into a department store. His child is with him as they walk through the toy department. Suddenly the child begins tugging on his parent's arm. He pulls his parent over to a counter and points with great joy at a certain toy on the shelf. His parent starts away. But immediately the child cries and screams for the object of his affection. In a minute or two the parent acquiesces. He buys the toy for his child.

Why?

Simply because his child wanted it. There was no thought or purpose to this purchase. It was merely to satisfy his child's desires. The parent wanted to stop his child from crying and give him a toy that would amuse him for a few hours -- or at most a few days.

After the newness is worn off in the first two or three hours, many toys are either broken or discarded. The child has very little to do with that toy afterward. Many people can take you into a room and point to hundreds of dollars worth of purchases in toys. The manufacture of toys is a gigantic business today. With department store shelves literally bulging with all kinds of toys, it is calculated that manufacturers' sales of toys are well over ONE BILLION DOLLARS!

The amount of raw materials used in the manufacturing of toys is astounding. In a recent year, toy manufacturers spent more than 100 million dollars for steel, 86 million dollars for plastics, 77 million dollars for packaging and more than 10 million dollars each for rubber, fabrics, and wood. The toy industry is big business.

Many people who cannot afford too many of the luxuries in life seem to be able to spend money on senseless toys. Actually, it amounts to throwing money away. Their child does not appreciate the toy. He does not derive any definite benefit from it. And very soon afterward he is tired and sick of it.

But how many people really give thought to the toy they buy? How many have a purpose in mind when they buy toys for their children?

Knowing that toys are instrumental in the development of children, many toy manufacturers have come out with "educational" toys. And in this category one may find nearly any type of toy.

It would be good to use caution in the choice of even so-called educational toys. Many of these toys are designed to appeal to adults. And when purchased for children they become very disappointing. Too many times toys are purchased in the educational line too far above a child's level. Parents will purchase the toys, give them to their children, sit back, watch them become "educated." But, to their surprise, this particular toy only frustrates their children.

All parents should beware of buying the toy THEY want rather than the toy that suits their child.

In order to show their affection parents tend to overdo the purchasing of toys. In the United States especially children tend to have far more toys than they need. This is not good.

Many child psychologists agree that too many toys are worse than not enough. The child with too many toys actually becomes confused and bored. He very seldom plays with any of them. Thus parents should concentrate on a purposeful and useful toy. It is better to purchase a few toys that are used than dozens of toys in many toy boxes that are never touched.

Toys should be purchased with the development of your child's body, mind, personality and character as a goal. They should also be chosen with a concern for safety.

Some suggestions of the National Commission on Product Safety are:

Test doll heads. Twist and turn the head, as well as the arms and legs, as a child might. Look for sharp edges.

Make sure the eyes and ears of toy animals are firm.

If a toy comes only in a package, ask the retailer for a sample you can examine.

Be wary of electrical toys.

Get assurance that paint on toys is nonpoisonous.

And finally -- above all -- use common sense!

There are many toys that will provide hours of fun and entertainment for your child -- and at the same time will give him plenty of exercise for developing his body. Some parents feel toys of this type are not worth anything. They want only toys to develop the mind. But in order to have a well-balanced child -- he must have a well-balanced curriculum. And this must take place at home.

Here are a few examples of toys that would aid in the development of your child's body and coordination. A ball can be one of the most effective toys along this line. Balls come in all sizes and colors. They are relatively inexpensive. And yet they give a child hours of enjoyment and fun. They are also a means by which the parent himself can participate in his child's activities.

Balls develop coordination, timing -- agility in bodily movements. They also give the child a chance to use his imagination in inventing several types of games. Most school sports are played with balls. This will help your child to become better adjusted in games at school.

Tricycles and bicycles are excellent toys in the development of the child's body. They provide fine exercise for children. They give many hours of entertainment and fun as well.

Other toys can be mentioned along this line such as swing sets, badminton games, and various types of sport games.

There are many toys which can aid school children and preschool children in the development of mind and education. At the same time these toys and games provide hours of fun. They are also conducive to a close family relationship. Parents can participate in these games with their children. It helps the children to become more closely associated in the family. It also helps them in the development of their personality by being with their parents.

For preschool children, sets of plastic numbers and letters are available. A small child can learn to play with them and to identify the various shapes. Parents are surprised how quickly a small child learns the alphabet. Your child can learn to recognize almost every letter in the alphabet before going to school. And he will not have been forced to learn it. He will have done it as a matter of course -- in his playing.

Word games can be very helpful in developing vocabulary and in improving spelling. Parents and children alike can participate in these games. These, of course, are for school-age children.

In this same category of developing the mind, there are many fine books on the market that will entertain and teach your children. But again, it is necessary for the parent to choose material that is suited for his child's age limit and ability!

Animal books are excellent for one- and two-year-old children. There are other books which supplement your child's learning in school such as the "Child Craft" series of educational books. And for children in school, "The World Book Encyclopedia" is certainly a fine home addition to supplement your children's learning if you can afford it.

Participation games are excellent for developing personality. Many games can be thought up in which children have to participate. There are games in which they have to express themselves verbally. These are excellent in helping them in group playing. Some of these games can be thought up rather than purchased.

Along the line of personality development is the development of creative skills. In expressing their personality through creative thought, many children enjoy tinker toys or erector sets.

In helping round out a child's personality, music is one of the best forms of entertainment. Children can learn to sing many fine songs. They can develop a rhythm and genuine feeling for music. There are children's records which help the children in songs and rhythms for their own age.

Starting a child on a musical instrument can help develop a rounded personality. Children do not have to be effeminate in order to learn music. They should not be pushed to extremes along this line, but they can be encouraged to learn to play some form of musical instrument. This will not only add to their personality development but will also help in discipline and the development of creative skills. It will help in their appreciation of finer things too. It will give them a sense and a feeling for beauty.

Toys are a child's responsibility. In having them he must learn to take care of them. Parents would do well to emphasize this to their children.

Have you ever walked into a home that was littered with toys from one end of the house to the other? This is not only unsightly but indicates a breakdown of character in a child. It shows a lack of discipline from the parents.

Children should be taught to take care of and put away their toys!

Toys with many parts and pieces can teach a child responsibility. Blocks, farm sets, tinker toys, etc., have many parts. After a child is finished playing, he usually is sitting in the midst of parts and pieces everywhere. It is HIS RESPONSIBILITY -- and this should be emphasized by his parents -- to put away these toys. He must pick up the pieces -- gather up his toys.

This teaches a child responsibility. And as he learns responsibility and continues to fulfill it, he develops character!

Many a grown man now wishes he had the training of discipline and character development. Many upon growing up have had to learn to discipline themselves. They have had to learn in later life what they should have learned as a child. Their parents never enforced rules upon them. They were never taught to take care of their own toys and possessions.

Teach your child these things NOW!

"All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy." We have all heard this expression. Its basic principle is true.

Many parents see that their children need more discipline and responsibility. They then feel that children should not be allowed to play at all. Some even have gone to the extreme of feeling that play was wrong or sinful. But it is not.

Remember to treat your children as children!

There is an extra ingredient that makes any type of entertainment more enjoyable. Without this ingredient, toys, games, good times cannot be enjoyed to the full!

What is it? Work!

At a very early age, children may be taught to put up their own toys, fold and hang up clothing, help make their beds, clean up after themselves in the bathroom, or do other simple tasks about the house or yard.

Without this responsibility, children will never be able to appreciate the good times of entertainment and fun. Take our society for an example. There is more vandalism now than ever before. Yet -- paradoxically -- we have more bowling alleys, skating rinks, movie houses, miniature golf courses, etc., than ever before in the history of this nation.

Why then the vandalism?

Simply because children get bored with playing. Without responsibility and work, play becomes frustrating to children -- or anyone for that matter.

The person who can truly enjoy a good time better than all others is a person who has worked hard and has fulfilled his responsibilities. By making your child fulfill certain responsibilities you will actually help him enjoy his playtime more. This extra ingredient is needed in his play and in his life.

"What are little boys made of?" went the old poem. Children are deeply impressed with the idea, practically from birth, that little boys are "devils," "monsters," and inherently evil -- while little girls are "nice," "sweet," and inherently little angels.

Little boys are told they are made of dirt, snails, and even puppy dogs' tails, while little girls are made of "sugar, spice and everything that's nice."

The naive boy, growing up to mature adulthood, marries, and finally tells his son, "There's no use, son -- you'll never understand 'em." He means the boy must swallow the same old line that has been handed down for generations and centuries that there is something "mysterious" and incomprehensible about women.

Don't you believe it!

Boys and girls in their basic selfish natures are identical. Perhaps they will express this selfishness in different ways. But to say girls are "nice" and "mysterious" while boys are "bad" is ridiculous. And to force little boys and girls -- not yet teen-agers -- into social dating, dancing and the like is criminal and nonsensical.

Surprising as it may sound -- much of the play of children, and the toys that are provided for them, is bent toward accomplishing the evil purpose of waging the age old "battle of the sexes" even from the cradle.

At a very early age, children begin to be segregated by their parents, or their teachers.

Girls are told they "do not play 'that way' or 'so rough' as do the boys" and boys are told "that's a GIRL'S game!" Normal children who would play happily together in active sports and games are instead instilled with a deep sense of the difference between the sexes at a very early age.

Thus -- boys play with guns. Girls play with dolls. Whenever boys and girls play together it is either in the earliest years of their schooling (later, gym periods are segregated) or, when still of pre-school age, they play such games as "Mom and Dad," "Nurse" or "Keeping House." These imaginative games of child fantasy seem harmless to most parents at first glance -- and yet, little do they even begin to realize how children, forced into an unnatural type of play activity by poor guidance, will begin to "imitate" parents -- even beginning sex experimentation as a direct result of this type play.

Children should not be permitted to "play house," or "doctor and nurse," or any other type game where they are building little makeshift houses, tents, or using garages, barns, or other enclosures. They should not be permitted to "pretend" they are adults -- playing games in an adult like fashion, in an intimate enclosure, where parents cannot check up on them from time to time.

Let's really understand this principle.

Is it right for children to pretend? "But they will just 'naturally' pretend ..." some will reason.

Yes -- they certainly will just "naturally" pretend to be a personality, a character, an individual they are not. And why? Simply because they have never been taught not to pretend.

Never forget PRETENSE is a wrong principle! It is hypocrisy, untruth, falsehood, a sham and a mockery. It is not truth -- but pretense. Many parents, victimized by the tremendous pressures of this berserk society, whose minds are thoroughly calloused with childhood myths, fairy tales, enlarged and falsified "nighttime 'stories'" from their parents -- would justify their children living in utter day-dreaming pretense.

These tales themselves are sometimes the most hideously gruesome of any stories imaginable.

Remember, however, there is a difference between a child's "pretending" the airplane he is playing with is a real airplane, holding it in his hand, making noises like an airplane -- and pretending to be a different personality than he really is.

There is a difference between a little girl's pretending her doll house is her own home, that her little toys are real -- and the little girl herself being a totally different personality.

There are many dangers inherent in allowing children to pretend, without careful parental knowledge and guidance. Do not permit your children to pretend they are "just like mommy and daddy," and begin to get off by themselves, where the parents do not know what they are doing.

Teach your children to play healthful, sensible, out-of-doors games wherever circumstances and weather permit. Kick ball, softball, hide-and-seek, tag, hop-scotch, backyard basketball; these are just a few of the dozens of healthful outdoors activities, not to mention the many, many games children will develop among themselves.

Teach them they are not adults -- but little children -- and that they should be just what they are!

Many parents try to force their children out of the child's age as soon as possible. They want them to act more "grown-up" and talk more "grown-up." Therefore, many parents fully approve of their children playing more "grown-up" type games.

Left to themselves and without the influence of this corrupt society (at least as to choice of playmates), boys and girls would play with no self-consciousness together in many really beneficial, and really interesting type games. They would remain, for several years, in an open acceptance of each other, and in somewhat blissful ignorance of any sense of great difference in them -- with girls enjoying the softball game just as much as boys; racing together, playing "tag" together, and engaging in dozens of the active, healthful, out-of-door type sports and games for children.

However, when children are inescapably made aware of supposed basic psychological differences at a very early age, it leads toward completely false and harmful concepts toward members of the opposite sex.

Boys become "afraid" around girls -- and girls become "shy" around boys. Why? Yes -- why, when in large family after family with several children of both sexes, children play in many active, beneficial games together with a selfless enthusiasm, with complete spontaneity, and with total lack of any feeling of "difference" between them.

It is usually by adults trying to make adults out of CHILDREN that many harmful attitudes are developed.

There really are differences, of course. But those differences are primarily physiological. They are in the physical makeup and muscular development, rather than really deep emotional and psychological differences. Let's understand. It is only when children have been made AWARE of some fabled "mystery" about the opposite sex that they become apprehensive of it.

Normally innocent childish play becomes, instead of open, friendly, enthusiastic and carefree enjoyment, an intrigue. It becomes burdened with wonderment, with fears and embarrassment, and with a natural desire to satisfy curiosity.

Make no mistake. Far from being a mere punctuation mark in the day of a child, his play periods (and the younger he is, the more heightened is the intensity of it) are, to him, the most important part of his day.

A child will reveal himself in his play. His inner motives -- his attitudes about his parents, his friends, toward many situations will spontaneously burst forth -- while he's playing.

That's why it is so important to guide your children in how they play, in what they play with, and with whom they play, and where.

If there is a truly normal, natural and God-like attitude toward the sexes in the home, and if the parents realize that children should be children, and are not trying to force a little girl to be a "lady" or a mature woman, or a little boy to be a "big man," then the children will play happily together in a really healthy, wholesome attitude.

But let's get down to cases. What kind of play should your children engage in?

Let's speak plainly. It is, believe it or not -- and shocking though it may sound to many of us in this "modern world" -- absolutely wrong for children to play war! To see a little child pointing anything, whether real gun, toy replica, or a simple piece of wood he picks up, at another person, and pretending to shoot him is a heinous act. It's wrong. It should be stopped by parents who have any sense of love and responsibility toward their children.

Further, the source of such play, such as the TV and magazines that inspire it, should be removed or strictly controlled. Then, the parents should really explain God's principles regarding killing. They should impress upon the child the dead seriousness of ever even playfully pretending to point a gun at someone.

After ample instruction and guidance, infractions should be punished. The lesson must be learned.

There are hundreds of varieties of playthings being manufactured today. The greatest enjoyment a child seems to experience comes from play -- not just with "things" but with other children. Therefore, the group type games are certainly to be desired.

Certainly children will break things, make mistakes, become confused. But the type play in which they indulge should be orderly. It should make sense. It should have an object to it -- and not merely be aimless wanderings, and hideous noises.

How often have you observed children laughing in a silly fashion or making noises that are excessive? Noises that are not controlled, that are "silly" and that lead toward nervous, upset confusion? Perhaps you have not given it much thought before -- but trivial as it may seem to some, this is another very important opportunity to teach your children a lasting lesson.

Let them know it's good to express themselves -- to laugh loudly, openly, freely. It's good to be enthusiastic about their play. But even for children -- it's not good to be in confusion, to be "silly" or to be making hideous, uncontrollable noises.

So remember to encourage your children to play in a manner that is orderly. Teach them to play orderly games -- games with rules to be followed, such as hide-and-seek, tag, and numerous others which children invent themselves.

The kind of play should always be constructive. It should be orderly. It should be beneficial both to the child's mind and his body. It should never be dangerous, and it should never be unsupervised.

Some parents reason that children need a time when they can get "off by themselves." But do they really?

Most assume the play period is the time when children get together by themselves. It is a "sacred" kind of "children's hour" in which adults are not to interfere.

Not true. There is never a time when a child should be left to himself!

When a child is playing is when he will evidence traits of selfishness, of vanity, of "foolishness" and other traits which should be corrected. It is only when the parent can observe, guide, and really control even the child's play that the parent can be aware of certain problems, or certain areas in which his (the parent's) training has been deficient.

Athletic directors are conscious of the fact that the heat of vigorous sports and games, especially the competitive ones, will quickly reveal basic attitudes. A person with no basic drive, with a lack of zeal in tackling his problems will inevitably show that lack, and show it plainly in sports and games.

So it is with children.

Basic traits of selfishness which may NEVER BE SEEN over the dinner table will be observed readily in children's play.

Nearly all child's games are at least mildly competitive. It is in the spirit of right competition, the kind where one player does not prevent the other from doing his best, that many really good and constructive habits can be taught.

Realizing, then, that simple play can be a very valuable method of teaching your children -- let's understand that children should not simply be turned out of doors, and left to fend for themselves.

This is perhaps one of the greatest infractions of good child-rearing principles.

Of course a parent cannot "watch" a child constantly. But supervision does not mean merely watching constantly -- it means starting their play in the right direction -- it means instructing in where to play, how to play, with whom to play, and when to quit playing. It means having the parent look in on the children from time to time during their play -- it means checking up on them frequently.

But, sad to say, there are millions upon millions of children learning abominable practices today, because instead of really supervised play, they are merely "turned out to pasture" like any animal! Their parents don't know where they are during major portions of the day or night. They don't know with whom they are, or what they are doing.

No -- even in play, a child should never be left to himself.

Another false concept is that children's play cannot be encroached upon by adults.

Misguided psychologists assume children want to get away from their parents -- that they wish "Daddy wouldn't interfere" in their games.

This is simply untrue. Children should be able to play, and play often with their own parents.

The father who will frolic with his children, play hide- and-seek with them, run with them, play catch and various forms of ball with them, will find his children really love to play with "Dad." Not all the time, or to the exclusion of other children their own age, of course -- but from time to time, they will actually choose to play with their parents instead of children their own age.

Parents should not play like children. They should not descend in dignity. But they certainly should play with their children. They'll find their children will love them even more for it.

When is the time for Dad to play with his children? Well -- certainly not by calling them home from the middle of an interesting game with a few neighbor children (if all other considerations are normal, such as type game, type children, etc.).

The time should be spontaneous -- whenever Dad really feels like it -- and when he wants to enjoy playing with his children, not just fulfill a "duty" toward them, and it should be OFTEN!

Thousands of parents do not know where their children play during the day. They could be on the railroad tracks, on a raft in the river, on the parapet of a high building, or in the street, for all the parents know.

Can we get the point? Children should play in an area where their parents can supervise them, an area that is close to their home, or, if farther away, a completely safe area, and one that is supervised by competent personnel, such as playground managers, teachers, or other responsible adults.

Too often, the child comes home tired from play, and mother asks, "Where were you all afternoon?" The child gives half an answer, and the mother seems satisfied.

Probably, the child was with neighbor children -- and so "Mom" assumes all is well.

But is it, really? Where was the child playing? Was it in an area conducive to wholesome, healthy, orderly games and sports? Or was it in an area, and with the type of children, that would result in serious trouble?

If children want to go to a public park or playground, the parents should accompany them there the first time, look over the area, and instruct the children on how to play there. The child should never be allowed to play there alone, or even with a group of children, unless the play area is supervised by responsible personnel the parent knows.

How many kidnappings, with sadistic, bestial sex crimes have there been lately, involving little children, who were allowed to be out on their own, away from their parents, in a public area? What a tragedy! Make sure it doesn't happen to your child. Know where he is playing at all times.

Your child should play with the children whose parents you know, or else with other school children at school, and in supervised areas at specified times.

When it is purely "neighborhood" children with whom your child wants to play -- you should make it a point to know the other children. Know their parents. Know something of their moral character, and their principles.

Many people are very careful about the kind of dogs their favorite purebred pet is around, but they will indiscriminately allow their precious children to play with practically anyone -- in a place they know not where.

If your child wants to go to the neighbor's yard to play -- let him -- if you know the neighbors, you KNOW their children, and you know the area in which they'll be playing. And then, only if you know that the parents of the other child will be supervising their play.

If you do not know these things -- then invite the neighbor children to your yard.

It's a whole lot safer.

Why not be careful with your children -- and know where they are, and what they're doing -- and know the same things about the neighbors' children as well, rather than be in ignorance of the whole thing?

We all know that most children learn most of what they supposedly "know" about the "facts of life" from other children of slightly older age.

Why? Simply because they are indiscriminately allowed to be in areas, and with the type children where they have access to smut, and sex experimentation. What a shameful pity to see the twisted pervert peddle his pornography, his heinous habit of dope addiction -- right on the high school grounds -- and for parents to find their children, barely in their teens, perverted, or dope addicts.

Can we understand? Protect your children. Don't be "overprotective" to the point of suppressing all independence as they gradually grow and become capable of being a little more self-reliant. But don't go to the other extreme, and leave them to shift for themselves in a rotten, hideous jungle of a society filled with terrifying horrors unrealized in your worst nightmares.

In summary, then, begin to look upon your child's play period as a vital part of his training.

USE the play times to teach valuable lessons. Teach unselfishness, sportsmanship, cleanliness, orderliness, self reliance (with special emphasis on reliance on God over self!) and real dependability.

Get your children interested in constructive crafts and hobbies as they grow.

Help them to become interested in animals and wildlife. Help them to become interested in growing things-in the helpful, constructive, interesting activities that are in every way UPbuilding, and not just whiling away time.

Then, watch your children play. Frequently, they'll want to show you some new things they've learned -- whether how to throw a ball or how to play hopscotch and you will learn more about your children and you'll learn even more about where they need your help and instruction.