The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-04-24
CHILD TRAINING
 NOW A SCIENCE
Interesting Talk Given By Ex. pert at Child Welfare
 Conference.

Washington, April 24.-"Training Children in Financial Responsibility
 was an Interesting subject of discuss sion before the International Congresss
 on the Welfare of the Child here to- day. Professor E. A. Kirkpatrick of
 E1tchburss Mass, a widely known child psychologist, delivered a long ad- dress in which he advocated that ev- cry child should be given a small al- lowanoe as early as five years of age and should be free to spend 1t as he p1eases."
 The speaker took an emphatic stand against the practice of paying children for doing unpleasant things that have no economic value, such as taking medicine or having a tooth pulled. Such practices, he declared, handicapped the child in coming to l the full realization of the relation of Ework and money in the world.
 l Almost equally obJecttcnaib1e, :. he said, ssis the giving of money for aycts
 of ppIiteness or kindness. These should l De paid for in eQuivaIent acts of po- 1iteness and kindness, and ideals of courage should be fostered in connec-s l ton with the enduring of pain. Out side of the home money will not be
 received for enduring pain OF Going kind acts, and to pay for such in the l home is to give the child false teaching as well as a low ideal of courage and I Kindness
 Tn present day life. Professor Kirk
 patrick said. money plays a much s more prominent part in the <satisfac- l tfon of desires than ever before, and the problem of financial training of children had under these new condf- ! tions become imp portant in every home
 Although labor was not the sole source
 of value, it Was the most fundamental
 and primary source and parent could sI not go far wrong in presenting this < view to children.
 ITO see other people call for some
 thing and put down some money for 1t
 means little more to a child at first than any ceremony, such as ibowing or Fl thanking between elder persons" he I continued ssn child never buys things himself he win very effectual- ly be kept in Ignorance of the real ! value of money, so if you wish that , condition it is only necessary to let hffn have none to spend. .
 He pointed out that parents also went wrong in making money seem z to the child the most important thing E in 1ifa,ard others swung to the other 2 extreme by giving child money ; whenever he asked for it The one 5 practice was likely to make the child envious the other to make him 2 : spendthrift, since he would be certain
 that he could get more money when his supply was gone.
 x In giving 8 small allowance stc children, parents may advise but ! never reuuir@ the. children to spend il 5 in any way. the speaker argued. The child must learn by his own expert } ence the satisfaction that may be got ! ten from spending money in various
 ways. One of the most valuable ex-
 iperiences a child may have is to buy
 something that gives very little ol very brief satisfaction. If such ar
 experience is preceded or followed bJ E something that gives great deal ol
 satisfaction the lesson is likely to b< of lasting value. It is a mistake tc ? help child out of dimculties of un 7 wise expenditure.
 ' within a few years the chi1t ? should become t1nancia1ly responshblt Z flor his own acts If he breaks dish
 es or windows. or injures5 any proper 2 ty, he should pay the damage out Q
 his own money. If this plan Is followed : the, parents should be very careful no ! to scoad tfes child for the act. On tn s contrary he should receive sympath. and be encouraged to do the onl, { proper thing, make good the loss q 2 well as he can. Children as early a s six years readily learn to understan, 2 financial obligation. and. properI taught, develop the will to repair Q pay for damaged articles. =