Advancing the Kingdom

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Advancing T he Kingdom: Kingdom House
SOME REFLECTIONS ON
DAY CARE, 1962
...The Community’s Concern – In
the past year there has been a great
deal of concern expressed by educators,
sociologists, psychologists, social
workers, etc., about something called ‘The
Culturally Deprived’ or ‘The Culturally
Disadvantaged.’ These are terms used to
describe the child (and his family) who has
very limited cultural experiences. These
children give cause for concern because,
as a group, they show a high incidence
of school failure and drop-out, emotional
disturbance, delinquency and eventually
adult crime. A large percentage of this group
are unhappy and maladjusted individuals.
Day Care and the Culturally
Disadvantaged Child – There is much
evidence that the experiences of early
childhood are major factors in determining
the individuals’ ability to deal with the
problems of living at any age. Therefore,
good day care, offering a suitable
educational program, is seen as a service
which can prevent some of the major ills
that plague society.
Day Care and Kingdom House – Many
of the families served by the Nursery might
be described as ‘culturally disadvantaged.’
Parents whose own experiences might have
been culturally limited cannot offer rich
experiences to their children. They may love
their children just as much as many parents,
but they cannot help them stretch toward a
fuller life than they themselves experienced.
We in the Nursery see again and again the
child’s blossoming as new vistas are opened
up for him. We do not see the finished
project – he still has a long time to grow –
but we can see the direction he is heading,
and we know that something from his
experience here will contribute to his living
more fully, learning more easily, being more
successful as a person...and THIS IS OUR
GOAL.
ADULT ACTIVITIES
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Adult activities have been many and
varied during the past year, primarily
growing out of the Golden Agers and Willing
Workers Clubs. However, since our program
is family centered, we must work closely
with parents, so much of the adult work
is centered in home visits, counseling and
other efforts designed to benefit family life
above and beyond the group activities.
Willing Workers. This group was
organized several years ago as a means
of providing a ‘morning out’ for mothers
with young children and for other women
who needed some social activities. In
addition to this needed service, it has also
provided a means by which we can teach
homemaking skills, money management,
child care, improved family life, community
responsibility, creative expression and many
other beneficial services. Members of this
group regularly volunteer their services to
help with group activities, special events,
fund-raising, etc.
Hearts of staff and members alike were
warmed last summer by the experience of
Mrs. W. who disregarded her paralyzed right
arm and learned to bowl left handed. This
new found ability (learned on a club outing)
carried over into other activities and she
was soon developing other skills with real
pleasure. This kind of experience is repeated
again and again as we work with individuals
to clear away the obstacles which prevent
their making full use of their capabilities.
Golden Agers. The need for
companionship and inadequate financial
resources continue to be the big problems
for this group. Through club activities and
co-sponsorship of an interagency daily
‘Drop-in Lounge for Sr. Citizens,’ our
oldsters are finding companionship and
are enjoying life more. Financial problems
are harder to deal with and our ingenuity
is often taxed to the utmost to provide
even partial solutions. An income of only
$55.00 a month defies even the most careful
management and other help is needed.
Interests of this group continue to be
varied and last year included a trip to the
Ozarks, a picnic at Kirkwood and other
excursions.
Volunteers came from this group, too, for
such jobs as receptionist duty, office work,
making cancer pads and even addressing
2,500 envelopes for the Health and Welfare
Council.
Other Adult Activities. These
included sponsorship of a P.T.A. group in
a neighboring school, a discussion series
staffed by the Wohl Child Guidance Clinic
on children’s problems, a weekly Adult
Night, a family movie program, discussions
on the Food Stamp Plan, the Borough Plan
and many other vital programs.
MATERIAL RELIEF PROGRAM
New dimensions have been added to this
vital assistance program as Mrs. Ransom
(Dorothy) brings her training as a Social
Caseworker into the relationship with our
families. Under a new policy, our assistance
programs are offered only as a part of the
total services so that each family may be
influenced by our full outreach. Families not
able to use our program are helped to other
sources of emergency relief.
...Unemployment and the absence of the
father are still the main causes contributing
to the intensive need. We have been fortunate
in one or two cases to be able to refer men
to jobs; quite often we can match up the
needs of one family for short term assistance
– babysitting, housework, etc. because of
illness or hospitalization – with the search of
another for this kind of employment.
The Christmas Gift Shop is the bright
spot of our material offerings and under
Mrs. Berry’s leadership was again an
inspiring demonstration of the generosity
of our supporting groups, cooperation of
the women who staffed the operation and
the volunteer groups of young people who
helped set up and arrange the volume of
material.
A splendid feature article feature article
Hearts of staff and
members alike were
warmed last summer
by the experience
of Mrs. W. who
disregarded her
paralyzed right arm
and learned to bowl
left handed.