The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-02-16
Individuality of Children.

Wnat more can l give my children tina
am giving themso asked an anxiou
young mother of matron who had success
fully reared large family. II think, m
dear, they would be benefited by littl
wholesome neglect" was the reply. l
was the result of keen observation, an,
recognition OF the fact that the children
IN question were kept in a continual stat,
OF worry by being watched The mother.
eye ana care were so omnipresent tina
1neif spontaneity was checked, and, as one
''don't''
Said another, in recalling "reminiscences
OF childhood: when l was a child was
rendered miserable by being constantly
watched and trained. was very fond OF
pelng alone at times. l could give no rea-
son Tor 1t, but loved to stay In unoccupied
rooms, or find hiding place among the
pushes In the garden, there to amuss my
sell with my own plays and fancies. My
notner was suspicious that this meant evil
Oh some kind, and constant surveilla. ice
and reprimand for going off by myself is
one OF the unpleasant memories OF nv
childhood
Nothing should be more carefully re-
spected and guarded than the individuality
OF child. The atmosphere of home should
be that of love and safety, in which all the
natural lnclinations of children should be
allowed to act spontaneously. The wishes
Tor employments and possessions of their
own should be respected, their tastes in
matters OF food and dress consulted so far
as is consistent with tie convenience of
those around. We have heard of grown
up people telling of the distress they had
When children to certain kinds of food
winch they were compelled to eat, or GER
tam Kinds OF clothes which they were COM
peled TO wear. 1t used to DE rule in many
families brought up in Puritan STYLE that
a enid must eat all the crusts of his bread.
or all the fat on his meat, or all the food
on his plate. Such rules are barbarous.
ana we trust nearly obsolete, vet child
reD's taste in food ought to be more CON
slderedothan it is. Food that's distasteful
should never be forced upon them, and to
procure for them food which they eniov
Will IN most cases be to procure such food
ds tnelf system requires. So of taste in
dress. Children Will sometimes have an
antipathy to particular colors, or particular
garments, and a preference for others. If
possible these tastes should be always re-
spected, guarding, Of course, against en- |
couraglng or fostering vanity.
30 OF the occupations and employments |
Oh cnlldren; as lar as possible they should |
be left to follow their own inclinations
when harmless. If your little girl Would
fatner play with hammer and tacks than
with her dolls, why let her have them and
see that she has a board. or. box. or a
place where she can drive them without re-
proof. Ii your little boy always wants to
lltch the chairs up for horses. and can
enjoy himself happily as an Imaginary
stage driver, why, set apart certain chairs
or him and let him drive unmolested and
lnwatched- If he begs for tools. let him
ave Ihem; IL ne wants pencils or paints,
procure them for him. The only way by
which parents can secure the confidence of
heir children is first to show confidence
them Confidence must be won: it can
lever be forced, not even from the little
mes who play around our knees
A happy childhood is the greatest heritage
'arents can give to Cheir children. It's +.
memory will brighten and cheer the whole
L life. To be happy it must to a certain :
Xtent be unrestrained. The home play :
round must have no dangerous places !
rom which children must be forbidden !
nd guarded. And in the shelter of the /,
ONE and the playground, let the young |
plrlts develop freely, spontaneously, hap =,
lily. Let them have their little secrets |
nelr own possessions that no one shall in .
erfere with, their own plays, and, so far I,
Is consistent with the welfare and com !
ort OF others, their own way Life will 6
lsclpllne them harshly enough when :
arents can no longer shield them from :
prov. Happy the home and happy the :
hid who can looi back and say, as does :
eloved English author:
well, have once been happy. l have :
cen child. 1 have been in heaven. |
ave stood in the smile and lain in the y
rms OF one of Gods angels. 1 was the =
Apply child of a gentle, loving mother, :
On that garden of my early home, where :,
ana the flowers grew up together. and y
me were playfellows then: I feared him y
Of. !
But the light of that garden, and the y
ght OF all the world to me was nv a
Others mile