The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-06-27
Virginia Temple Tells of Her Study
Of Nervous Child and His Faults

Not even IN the same family do chill
dren vigorously conform to one pattern
They differ essentially in ina ginauve
power. Observation-Disclosures, intelligence,
curiosity. and so on throughout the whole
category OF temperamental qualities
Therefore We may not consider our chill
dren collectively and direct their lives
accordingly
In the dissimiliarity of her children
the mother finds her delicate work Of
discrimination. and upon the extent OF
this ability TO discriminate and minis
ter TO the needs OF each separate child
as an individual rests her power Of
influence In the development Of their
several characters.
believe the experience Of every
mother win bear me out IN the state
ment that II is the child OF the ex-
training is The most difficult It is the
intense mental and physical energy
which are the characteristics Of such a
child that so farthest toward making
81 hard. The nervous child is usually
restless, and even the great activity Of
bis mentality does not always meet mis-
demands for The furnishing Of an outlet
Tor his surplus nervous energy
Mother of
Same Temperament.
The mother of the nervous child not
infrequently has the same temperament
When this is true, she has from the
beginning of the child's traiEing, many
lard lessons 10 teach herself She
cannot change her temperament nut
she can and must learn seIf-cOntrOl if
Fne would have ner influence upon her
child quoting, and not exciting, 10 his
nerves To learn the outward demon
strations Of nerves in her boy IS not
enough. This knowledge alone VIII help
neither mother nor child III she does not
IN addition, nave her own nerves under
such control as 10 enable her 10 hide
{, the very fact OF their existence from
her child.
ANY woman who declares. I cannot
control my nerves. says a very foolish
thing. We can and we must II is a
question OF good health and the will.
The mothers self-control Is the pri-
mary requisite for directing the child's
nervous energy. He viii tax her pa
thence 20 the utmost She must under
stand him as an individual and guide
him through suggestion that awakens
hts interest. She can never drive him,
and nagging is fatal.
Child Is
Quick to Anger.
This child Of the nervous temporal
Tnent IS quick TO anger. gives himself
in complete abandon TO his affections,
ana utterly spcius hlinseiL lh ei1hei
passion His play is both exhaustive
and exhausting He is imaginative and
high-spirited, fun Of questions, quick 10
grasp explanations. absorbed in a great
personal interest in the so Of the whole
world He has an abnormal store of
both mental ami physical energy. which
e not directed into some practical occu-
patton VIII. Ia most instances, bring him
INTO all kinds Of mischief
Naf4Fe EEaTEn mgnOrpnV There
are. of course variations in the type.
But even in q difference Of disposition
] think that the mother Wlll recognize
IN every nervous child a superduiGy of
energy that requires some special guild
ance from her-soule practical outlet.
Conceding her seif-control sufficient
70 avoid friction and antagonism, what
can she dOf How Is she going 10 direct
this superiority OF nerOvus energy IN heI
children (for Il Is quite possible that