Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-06-27
Judicious Letting Alone for Children

There is too much coddling, and aux.
ious care, and superfuous supervision,
and thoughtless denials of innocent
pleasures, and general worry and nerv.
business, in the policy of many parents
touching their children. They don't
let them alone" enough. 1.-the,
light-footed, active little chaps of nine
to twelve years Of age, % brimful of
life and play as kitten, and in about
as much danger Of OVERRIDING" are
constantly cautioned against running
and playing too much, or climbing
trees, or mounting walls, or clambering
over rocks, or doing anything that q
boy loves to do, and has been doing
without accident in greater proportion
than one to hundred thousand, ever
since the world was set going.
Boys still smaller have their pleas
ures. and often their health, sacrificed
to their good clothes. We can hardly
conceive of q more wretched state for
a normal boy-and the term is meant to
include girls-than the period of white
dresses, fancy stockings, thin shoes,
beautiful sash, and fine filings so dear
to the maternal heart. The little four
year.old wants to make mud pies or
run on the beach, or chase butterflies,
or draw his cart, or roll on the grass.
But no!-he is dressed up all Clean"
and though every sense impels him to
eager and healthful action, he must re-
moin on dress-parade. tits hard to see
the child sacrificed to the clothes and
if it would do any good, we would hope
thot oil opNI, IofpnrvInl osol ~o1
for little ones might fall down, or get
into muss," twenty times as often
as they do.
But even parents wise enough to
give their children plenty of liberty in
healthful and sensible directions, ham,
per them too much with petty restric.
tions, and give themselves unnecessary
trouble in their care. Especially when
out for summer vacation, when one
part Of the family wants repose, and
the other " fun" with all that includes,
should the wise parent know how not
to see OF hear everything. The philos-
ophy of not giving one mind to it is
rarely better applied than to the care of
children in such circumstances. The
usual sharp lookout will keep the
mother calling "Don't." Mustn't"
"stop," "Go," Come" all day long,
with occasional lectures and disciplin-
airy cautions thrown in and night will
find the children cross, and the mother
call worn out" And no wonder!
Try little judicious letting alone.
The danger is often in your own nerv-
GUS fancies the little quarrel will blow
over like summer cloud the chick
ems will be chased but not killed puss
and dog can take care of themselves !;
the swing won't break the sooner for
not being watched the tide won't come
in with sudden rush because you are
not to scream warnings every ten min
utes; little fall from the tree or rock
will teach your boy caution more surely
than forty lectures. Leave them alone
one day, and see, to your surprise, per-
haps, that they are actually alive and
only BEAUTIFULLY tired at night. Save
your "noes for essential things, and
say "yes promptly and cheerfully to
the things that seem so little to you,
but are actually big for children. Keep
at least one eye and one ear shut, and
great shall be your relief.