[Illustration: Photograph by Brown Bros. Play hours as well as work hours are invaluable in teaching the girl the difficult art of getting on with the world]
Games must be carefully distinguished from the more general term play. All play not solitary has recognized social value; games, because the idea of contest is involved, have a special value of their own. Close observation of young children in their games, especially when unsupervised, shows us self supreme. According to temperament, the child either pushes his way savagely to the goal or furtively seeks to win by cunning and craft. He must win, regardless of the process. How many of these unsupervised games end in "I sha'n't play," in angry bursts of tears, or even in blows! How many fail upon close scrutiny to show some less assertive child, who never wins, who is never "chosen," who might better not be playing at all than never to "have his turn"!
[Illustration: Copyright by Underwood & Underwood Hunter High School girls playing hockey in Central Park, New York. The educational value of games lies in the fact that they teach fair play, self-control, and proper consideration of others]
During the individualistic period games must be for the satisfaction of individualistic desires. Team work must await a later development of child nature. But while each child may play to win, his future welfare demands that his efforts be in harmony with certain principles.
1. He must respect the rules of the game. 2. He must "play fair." 3. He must control anger, jealousy, boastfulness, and other of the more elemental emotions. 4. He must consider the handicaps suffered by some players, and see that they get a "square deal."
Girls' games and boys' games at this period happily show little differentiation. Almost any game not prejudicial to health serves to call into action the moral forces we strive to cultivate. The game to a certain extent typifies the larger life--the life of effort, contest, striving to win. Self-control and proper consideration of others in the one must serve as a help in fitting for the other.
[Illustration: Courtesy of L.A. Alderman Drill work as well as games is beneficial to health and also teaches self-control]