The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-09-27
THIRD TALK = USE OF iNcENT-
IVES IN cHILD-TRAINlNG


Very early in life the child learns
that certain actions are followed by
pleasant sensations, while others are
not. Almost intuitively he strives to
secure the one and to avoid the other.
Soon the desire for the pleasant sensa-
lions become so strong that it acts as an
incentive to action.
AS the child grows older the incent-
Ives which appeal to him increase in
number, grow in power and rise in
character Consciously or unconscious
~ they influence the will, determine
action, fix habits, mold the character
and make certain the destiny of all,
both for time and for eternity. Since
they do so vitality affect the present
and future of all, much attention
should be given by parents to the con-
sideration of their influence upon chill
dren.
A Pound of Leading Worth Ton of
Driving.
1t is a hundred times easier to lead
than to drive. Too few parents appre-
c1ate the Importance of this truth. A
still smaller number understand the
proper use of right incentives. In the
past, too much time and energy have
been wasted in unsuccessful attempts
TO drive children into right ways, and
too little thought given to plans of
leading them, by pleasant experiences
and anticipations. TO prefer the correct
paths. All who have studied children
closely will agree that, if started right
most of them can be led easily all the
time; that all can be led most of the
time, and that few, If any, need be
driven much of the time. Why, then,
should a child be constantly driven. if
he can more easily be led most of the
time? How important, then, that we
learn to lead when it is possible to do
so, and drive only when we must
Moral Value of Incentives.
The true value of any incentive is de-
termined by the character of the end
desired. At first it will be necessary to
choose the lower incentives. Many
make the mistake of appealing to the
higher, before the child has reached
such an age or stage of moral develop
ment as juStifieS the use of such. Fail
ing to respond to the higher, the child
is often improperly classed with those
who cannot be reached by any incentive
1t is also great mistake to continue
the use of lower incentives after the
higher begin to appeal to the child's
judgment.
The Selection of Proper Incentives.
1t requires no little skill to select the
proper incentives and to gradually sup
plant the lower by higher. Neverthe-
less, 1t is very important that this be
done. If It is not done the child will
fail to act, except when under the slim
illus of the lower motives. The con-
tinued use of the lower motives not
only weakens the will, but makes the
child slave to external influences,
forms bad habits and places desirable
ends upon a false basis The constant
effort should be to use the highest
incentives which will appeal to the in
diVidual child at the particular time.
Seven Valuable Incentives
Since the selection of proper incent-
ives is so important and, at the same
time, so difficult matter, it is we'll for
us to consider very earnestly what in
centives can be found which will en-
able us to manage and train our chill
dren. By so doing we may be saved
the necessity of using much harsher
means The following seven incentives
are such as can be used by every par
ent.
The Desire for Comfort
Beginning with the lowest in the
scale, the desire for comfort is one of
the very earliest of incentives. AS be-
fore stated. while yet "a babe in the
mothers arms, the child discovers that
some acts are followed by personal
comfort and others by unpleasant SEN
sations The one great desire is to
secure the pleasant and avoid what is
unpleasant This natural desire large
ly determines the conduct of individu-
ais all through life.
If the child'S treatment is uniform,
these associations, being made fire.
quently, leave their impress, and the
child becomes aware of a law of con-
duct outside of itself. This is the will
of the parent or other person in au-
w.
that it pays to avoid all acts which
result in pain or discomfort. So well
is this lesson learned that few bad
habits would be formed if unpleasant
results uniformly followed improper
acts.
Fear of Punishment.
The fear of some kind of punish
ment is a powerful incentive to right
conduct. Though one of the very low
est, yet it is an incentive of which most
parents must make use frequently, at
first.
While it should not be used when it
Is possible to reach the desired end by
any higher, the fact remains that with
far too large proportion of children
and adults it is the fear of the conse-
quences that generally prevents the
improper action.
Rewards and Prizes.
The natural desire for some objec-
tive recognition of right conduct al
ways acts as powerful incentive with
most children. Considered simply as
such, regardless of their intrinsic VAL
ne, they may easily be replaced by in
centives of a higher kind. The great
danger of prizes is found in the fact
that, unless great care is taken, the
child will be led to act merely for the
love of the prize. In this, as in every
thing else, the child is a creature of
the present, and Is powerfully infiu-
enced by the expectation of some lit
tie reward soon, rather than by the
hope of some great reward in the dis
tant future.
Appreciation of Parents and Others.
Quite early the young child learns,
unconsciously, from the tone of the
mothers voice, and from her smile or
froWn, that certain acts are approved
while othess are not This incentive to
proper conduct increases with the age
of the child So powerful does it be-
cCme. if carefully used, that scarcely
any other incentive or punishment will
be needed. Would that parents would
grasp the truth of this statement! How
dearly do little ones prize the parents
APPROVAL They are not only made
happy by the praise received, but also
because of the added pleasure which