Good Times with the Juniors

by Lilian M. Heath

Here is a new kind of “slipper-hunt,” which is enjoyable. Tell the Juniors that there are forty pairs of slippers hidden about the rooms, and offer a reward to the one finding the greatest number that prove to be pairs. The slippers should be of different colors, and about three inches long. They are cut out of cardboard from patterns found in an illustrated catalogue.

The plan of a doll Cinderella seated in a pumpkin coach lined with light blue, with four and twenty chocolate mice harnessed to it with ribbons and driven by a colored doll coachman, is not new, but is very pleasing, especially to the younger ones. Refreshments may be slipper-shaped sandwiches or cookies, lemonade, and the chocolate mice.

Star Social.

If you wish decorative features, the following are attractive, though not necessary to the success of the social.

Cut from gilt paper as many stars about an inch in diameter as there are Juniors. Then take a large star-shaped wire frame, one of those supplied by florists for Christmas decorations, fill it with evergreen or holly, if the social is to be held near Christmas time, and suspend it from the ceiling or chandelier by ribbons, extending from each point upward and meeting at the centre. From each point of this large star hang a group of the little stars, by strings or baby ribbon of different lengths, so that from each point the gilt stars will be hanging in a cluster, some higher, some lower. Number all the stars, those in each group having a number of their own. Thus the cluster of stars from one point will all be numbered 1, those from another point 2, and so on.

Some of the Juniors are probably taking piano lessons, and making good progress; or learning to play on other instruments; and of course a number can sing well. Ask several of the musical ones to come prepared to play or sing. A few others should have recitations; and two or three who like to write can each write an original story not more than five hundred words long.

As the Juniors come in, give to each of them a pencil and a star-shaped white card with the words written from the centre towards each point, “Pictures,” “Music,” “Stories,” “Speaking,” and “Museum.” Ask them to write their names on the reverse side of their cards; and then to read what is written on the star-points, and to make a check or cross very plainly in that point having the name of the thing they like best. The cards are then collected, and will be, by the way, no slight help to a new Junior superintendent in learning to understand the tastes of the children with whom she is to work, even after this particular good time is over.

While the cards, after being collected, are examined and sorted, some game may be played. The “flying star” is a good one. Each player is supplied with a small empty spool, with a colored paper star pasted over one end. Half the stars are red, the other half blue, to distinguish which side the player is on. Arrange twelve berry-boxes, quart size, on the floor in a hollow square. Mark four of them on the bottom with the figure 5; four of them 10, and leave four blank. Place a tin cup in the centre. Let the players stand a few feet away, and they may test their skill in throwing. Each spool, or “flying star,” landing in the cup, counts 20; when landing in one of the boxes, it counts whatever that box is marked. Each side keeps tally, and when all the stars have flown, the scores are compared to see which side has the larger.

Next, divide the Juniors into groups for the game “constellations,” which is really several games in one. The division is made according to choice as already marked on the cards given out on arrival. Those who chose “Pictures” are put in Constellation No. 1, and to them belongs the cluster of little hanging gilt stars marked with that number. Those who chose “Music” are in Constellation No. 2, and so on. The gilt stars are taken down and given to the Juniors thus by number, pinned to the dress of each; and thereby every Junior becomes a “star,” and must prepare to shine accordingly. As before stated, however, the star decorations are not absolutely necessary; the Juniors can shine even without being thus labelled.

The constellation of “star artists” sit together, and for half an hour engage in some drawing contest. Perhaps the game of “accidental high art” is as good as any. Spread a newspaper over a table; let each player be furnished with two pieces of paper and a pen; and on the table place a bottle of India ink and a fountain-pen-filler. With the filler let one drop of ink fall upon one of the pieces of paper belonging to each, and tell him to press upon it his other sheet of paper. This gives each player the foundation for two pictures, so that if his first attempt is not an entire success he can try again. The aim is to make of the grotesque and shapeless blot, by the help of the pen and imagination, a picture of some object—animal, tree, landscape, or whatever turns out to be most feasible. As blots are never twice alike, there is every opportunity for the fancy and skill of the artist.