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FIRST STEPS IN MENTAL GROWTH

year. In the thirty-fifth month two instances of grasping a bowl by placing the thumb inside were noted; in the thirty-sixth, one. At the time of this writing (R.'s thirty-ninth month) bowls and similar articles are almost always grasped by placing the fingers inside, while saucers and plates are, so far as I have observed, picked up by placing the fingers under the edge of the saucer or plate after the manner of adults. That is, the simian method of grasping plates and saucers has disappeared, but is still the favorite method of picking up cups and bowls.

Additional hand-movements.—The general nature of the process of learning to do things with the hands is perhaps indicated at sufficient length in the preceding paragraphs. This section will conclude, therefore, with the mere naming of a number of other hand-movements which the child learned, or tried to learn before the close of the third year. Among those learned were:—To open a pen-knife; to wind a small clock; to open a drawer; to wash his own hands; to put a door-key in a key-hole and lock and unlock a door; to push the button of an electric door-bell. The following is a partial list of hand-movements which we tried to teach him, but without success:—To lace his shoes (mentioned above); to button and unbutton his clothes; to put on his coat; to tie a single knot in a string; to swing a rope for the game "jump the rope"; to tear from paper forms representing his favorite toys and animals.