Democratic Sentinel, Volume 22, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 April 1898 — The Songs of Childhood. [ARTICLE]

The Songs of Childhood.

Rhythmic motion is almost the first thing which appeals to a child. While It is alleged that “the hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world,” the hand is subordinate to the mother’s voice. I have frequently seen children of eighteen months responding accurately to. time and tune, when they could neither say nor interpret the words thereof. The songs of children should be cheerful in sentiment, teach lome moral lesson, and at the same time teem with enthusiastic activity, being physically educative. Those who find It difficult to entertain their children would better own a collection of such songs, and also visit the kindergarten to get in the spirit of the songs and games. It would be still better if a body of mothers should seek instruction of some kindergartner. The songs and games might be acquired in a comparatively short time in the winter evenings. lam sure any mother would feel amply compensated for the outlay, by her own augmented power to please and interest her children. Songs accompanied by clapping are a source of unending delight, but in order to make the clapping musical the claps should be alternately hard and soft, so that the one seems to be an echo of the other. Try “Yankee Doodle” in this way and see for yourself.—Woman’s Home Companion.