European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - April 24, 1968, Darmstadt, Hesse                              Page 16 the stars and stripes wednesday april 24,  child s Fly it  maintain child set play is a learning process and there. I fore pretty serious business. If you have any doubts turn a count oof kids lose at a toy exhibit and watch the reactions. On a recent visit to a German to show Leslie Marina Ault 3, and Selina Daphine Freeman 4, gave gasps of Jonas they first surveyed the scene. From then Way is photo by Ted Rohde blonde Leslie Ault 3, and her Friend Selina 4, took visit to toy exhibit very seriously. They and German boy Bottom left were soon absorbed in world of play. Above Leslie admires hand puppets Center she and Selina give building blocks expert Eye. Bottom Selina tries out toy Telephone. Of thenon though smiles gave to studied looks of Complete a soft. Lion As they settled Down to seriously Ponder each plaything. According Sci the psychologists the re action was As it should be. If it s True As claimed that a 17-year-old attains half his intelligence before the age of 5, then the Early play Yea Sand All that goes with them Are very important. Kids take play seriously. So should their  brings up the question of just what Type of toy offers a child the Best Opportunity for learning. Not so Long ago a toy was simply that just a toy then the psychologists began taking a clinical look around playrooms and Al that changed. Soon the air was Whir with psychological jargon. Blocks be came manipulative dolls ego expand ers and Fluffy Teddy bears imagination simulators. It was at about this time that the Era of the toy that does things blossomed. To land became mechanized and the in thing for Junior was to own some sort of push Button  to Bernard Barenholtz vice president of one of America s leading toy firms the idea was that old fashioned toys like Limp Raggedy an Sweren t responsive enough. They just limply Lay  did t offer their owners the maximum Opportunity for personality expansion a modern mechanized walking talking doll could. But As theories go this one see Nisto be coming in for a bit of re evaluation. U ,. The very child psychologists who scorned the do nothing toys of grandma s Day Are now having second thoughts notes Barenholtz whose firm turns out Many simple free form play Many now feel that the highly detailed toys May cramp rather than Challenge the imagination. For Little Leslie Marian and nor Friend Selina such theories Are All pretty academic. ,. But both would agree with me psychologists that play is important a great Way to learn. W we