Take four short cobs for sturdy legs. Nail to these four slender cobs for bed-frame. In the inner part of the long sides of the bed hammer small tacks about ¾ inches apart. Then string cord from one tack across to the opposite one and so on, to make springs. Make mattress of cheesecloth stuffed with cotton. Other furniture can easily be made in similar manner.
In this work, as with other suggestions here given, older children will need to help younger ones and thus the spirit of helpfulness and sympathy is exercised.
CORN KERNELS—DRY
Portieres (Kernels of corn, straws, needle, coarse thread, pan)
Soak corn in pan of water over night or till soft. Get inch-long pieces of straw at kindergarten supply store, or, if obtainable in the country, get the straws entire and let the children cut them into inch pieces. In all this work it is desirable to let the child do as much as possible himself. Later, when familiar with materials and simple processes, let him use the prepared bought material.
Now, let him string the corn and straws alternately. He can then vary by stringing first one kernel and one straw; then two kernels and one straw; then three, etc. This gives practice in counting, and exercises also his sense of taste and proportion and his invention. A pretty effect can be secured by using kernels of the two colors, red and yellow.
Suspend a number of such strings in the doorway; they may be all of the same length or may be very short in the middle of the doorway and gradually get longer as the jamb is approached.
Designing (Red and yellow kernels)
On a rainy day let the child employ his inventive skill in making designs of the red and yellow kernels on a flat table. He can lay them in squares, oblongs, crosses, etc.