to observe, to think, and to do, may be completely transformed
in these ways by the playing of games. The sense perceptions are
quickened: a player comes to see more quickly that the ball is coming
toward him; that he is in danger of being tagged; that it is his turn;
he hears the footstep behind him, or his name or number called; he
feels the touch on the shoulder; or in innumerable other ways is
aroused to quick and direct recognition of and response to, things
that go on around him. The clumsy, awkward body becomes agile and
expert: the child who tumbles down to-day will not tumble down next
week; he runs more fleetly, dodges with more agility, plays more
expertly in every way, showing thereby a neuro-muscular development.

[Sidenote: Social development]

The social development through games is fully as important and as
pronounced. Many children, whether because of lonely conditions at
home, or through some personal peculiarity, do not possess the power
readily and pleasantly to cooeperate with others. Many of their elders
lack this facility also, and there is scarcely anything that can place
one at a greater disadvantage in business or society, or in any of the
relations of life. The author has known case after case of peculiar,
unsocial, even disliked children, who have come into a new power of
cooeperation and have become popular with their playmates through the
influence of games. The timid, shrinking child learns to take his turn
with others; the bold, selfish child learns that he may not monopolize
opportunities; the unappreciated child gains self-respect and the
respect of others through some particular skill that makes him a
desired partner or a respected opponent. He learns to take defeat
without discouragement and to win without undue elation. In these and
in many other ways are the dormant powers for social cooeperation
developed, reaching the highest point at last in the team games where
self is subordinated to the interests of the team, and cooeperation is
the very life of the game.

[Sidenote: Will training]

Most important of all, however, in the training that comes through
games, is the development of will. The volitional aspect of the will
and its power of endurance are plainly seen to grow in power of
initiative; in courage to give "dares" and to take risks; in
determination to capture an opponent, to make a goal, or to win the
game. But probably the most valuable training of all is that of
inh