A clear and practical presentation of the workings of an experimental nursery school. Miss Johnson offers no hasty generalizations; she sets down the record of her eight years' experience, and indicates the conclusions which may be drawn from the study of children's activities during the most significant period of physical, mental and social development—from fourteen to thirty-six months. She exlains how the nursery goes about its attempt to scale civilization down to the child level in its behavior demands and to open up wider opportunities for active exploration that an adult world can afford.

In discussing the environment offered by the nursery school, she considers the child's activities and materials, his relation to other children and to adults, and his introduction to language and rhythm.