Miller's Mind training for children Book 1 (of 3): A practical training for successful living; Educational games that train the senses — John Stuart Mill — John Shaqi
Miller's Mind training for children Book 1 (of 3): A practical training for successful living; Educational games that train the senses
John Stuart Mill · en
The child should be taught to recognize tones, and the spaces between
tones of the scale. Have him stand with his back to the piano and learn
to tell the difference in the tones that are played. First, use the
octave, then the one-five-eight. Next the one-three-five eight; then
the one-two three, etc. Then introduce the half-tones. This exercise
can be made more difficult according to age and musical ability.
The Game of Blind Man's Ears
Have the child blindfolded and sitting quietly on the porch and tell
all the sounds he hears. The blindfold will add to the interest and
fun, at the same time insure his dependence upon the sense of hearing.
Let him tell what is approaching; if persons are walking, how many? If
a vehicle is coming, how many horses, and what kind of a vehicle? Let
him learn to distinguish automobiles by sound, large cars from small
ones, trucks from pleasure cars.
Strive for recognition of the slightest sound, a distant bird, etc. Try
to estimate the distance from which the sound is coming.
Take the child into the woods, teach him to distinguish the sounds of
the different animals, and if possible to locate the distance and to
estimate the location. On the ground, in a bush, or up a tree?
Anything which stimulates the child to hear keenly and accurately is
of value. Let the exercise be adapted to the time and place. When he
remarks "How quiet it is here," it is a good time for him to realize
how many sounds are actually going on around him.
The Game of Telephoning
Give each child a pencil and paper and have them sit in a row or in
different parts of the room equally distant from the spot selected for
the "operator."
Make a list of words; later on short sentences can be used; have the
operator take these and sit about twelve feet from the children. Let
the operator whisper "Hello," just loud enough for the children to
hear distinctly. The children can raise their hands when they "get the
connection," or hear the "Hello," but should not be allowed to speak
during the game.
The operator will then whisper the words in the list slowly, using the
same volume of sound as in the "Hello," giving time between words for
each child to write them. At the conclusion correct the lists, each
child being scored for the number of words heard correctly. During this
game all instructions should be given in whisper, and perfect quiet
maintained among the children.
The Bell Game
Have all the children sit quietly in one room while some one takes
a small bell and goes to some other room, hall or any other part of
the house and rings the bell softly, just loud enough to be heard in
the room where the children are seated. See which child can tell most
accurately the location where the bell was rung. Allow the child making
the closest guess to go out and ring the bell.
The Game of Stop Thief