Not yet five / issued by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health.

Date:
1946
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Not yet five / issued by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    An ideal day in a Nursery reflects as nearly as possible the kind of day which makes a contented child at home. The happiest child is one who lives in a home in which he feels safe because he knows without doubt that he belongs to it and that he is welcome there. An orderly home in which duties and pleasures follow some under- stood routine helps to give a child this sense of safety. He knows he will have meals, be kept warm and clean, play his own games without interference, go to bed; and he also knows that some grown-up person is ordering it all. This sense of security helps to make him confident, encourages him to move and speak without fear and gradually to become independent and helpful to others. It is the first aim of the staff of a Nursery to provide this sense of security for the children. They do it in the following ways. First, they are sympathetic, cheerful and reliable, for by the attitude of the staff the children will soon know whether they are really welcome or not. Secondly, they try to keep an orderly arrangement in the Nursery, so that the children know where everything is and where it should be put away, for muddle and confusion will be a sure source of temper and tears, and will prove very harassing to the staff. Thirdly, they make and follow a programme and do their best to prevent its being broken. It is not the purpose of this book to say what the exact order of the children’s day should be, for the staff, of course, make their own plans, but the programme always includes play both in and out of doors, having meals, washing and going to the lavatory, relaxation and sleep.