, 1885-03-04
WOMAN N HOME.
HELPFUL HINTS CONCERNING THE
CARE OF CHILDREN.
Ksthetie Importance of Dress-Amusing
the Baby wall Paper Itoms for
Housekeepers = Fashion Notes
Individuality OF Children

N-
what moro can l give my children than
i am giving themp asked an anxious young
mother Of a matron who had successfully
roared a large family. Il think. my dear,
they would DO benefited by q little whole
soms neglect" was tho reply. 1t was tho
result OF keen observation, and a recogni-
ton OF the fact that tho children In ques-
ton wero kept In a continual state Of worry
by being watched. Tho mothers eye and
care was so omnipressnt that their spon-
tanelty was checked, and, as one remarked,
life for them was one eternal don't"
Said another in recalling reminiscences OF
childhood; AWhen l was a child / was rem
dered miserable by being constantly watched
and trained. 1 was very fond Of being alone
at timas. l could give no reason for it, but
/ loved to stay In unoccupied rooms, or find
a hiding place among the bushes in tho gar
den, there to amuse myself with my own
plays and fancies- My mother was suspic.
ious that this meant evil Of some kind, and
constant surveillance and reprimand for
going Off by myself Is one Of the unpleasant
memories Of my childhood"
Nothing should be more carefully 10
spected and guarded than the individuality
OF n child. The atmosphere Of home should
DO that OF love and safety, In which all the
natural inclinations OF children should be
allowed TO act spontaneously. Their wishes
for smploymonts and possessions OF their
own should be respected. their tastes In mat
tors OF food and dress consulted In so far as
is consistent with tho convenience of those
around We nave heard grown up people
tell OF the distaste thoy had when
which they were compelled 10
eat, or certain kinds Of clothes
which they were compelled to wear.
1t used to DO a rule In many families
brought up in the Puritan style that a child
must eat all the crusts OF his bread, or all
the fat on his meat. or all tho food on his
plate. Such rules are ~barbarous, and we
trust nearly obsolete, yet children's taste In
food ought to DO more considered than it Ia
Food that Is distasteful should never DO
forced upon them, and to procure for them
food which they enjoy, will In most case, be
TO procure such food as their systemI re-
quire. So Of taste In dress. Children may
sometimes have an ~antipathy to particular
%colors, or particular garments, and a prefer
ence for Others. II possible these tastes
should always be respected, guarding, Of
course, against encouraging or fostering
vanity.
30 Of the occupations and em~ploymeuts
OF children, as far rs possible they should be
left TO follow their own inclinations when
they are harmless. II your little girl would
rather play with hammer and tacks than
with dolls, why, lot her rave them, and see
that she has a board, or a place where she
can drive them without reproof. II your
little boy always wants to hitch the chairs
up for horses AMI can enjoy himself happily
as an imaginary stage driver, set apart cor
tain chairs for him, and let him drive unmo-
Tested and unmatched. II he begs for tools,
lot him ave them; II he wants pencils or
paints, procure them for him. The only
way by which parents can secure the conf
dence of their children Is first to show con-
hdence In them. Confidence must be won;
IL can never DO forced, not even from the
little ones who play round our knees
A happy childhood is the greatest heritage
parents can give to their children. It's
memory will brighten and cheer the whole
OF life. To be happy it must to a certain
extent be unrestrained. Tho home play
ground should have no dangerous places
from which children must be forbidden and
guarded. And in the shelter OF the home
and tho playground, lot the young spirits
develop freely, spontaneously, happily. Let
them have their little secrets, their W
possessions which no one shall Interfere with,
their own plays, and, SO far as IT Is consist
ent with the welfare and comfort of others,
their own way. Life will discipline them
harshly enough when parents can no longer
shield them from sorrow.