Omaha daily bee., 1915-09-14
Parents and
the Child
By virginia Tcrhune Van de wster

Copyright, 1915. by Star Company.
How our children shall speak Is worth
consideration. / do not mean how they
shall learn TO form the first babV-words
that mean so much to the devoted par
ents. But shall they speak like educated
and refined members of society. or shall
we allow them to indulge in the slang
and rough-and-tumble language peculiar
TO some Of their associates?
Children are as initiative as monkeys
One man who. I'm intense moments
lapses into profanity has a bright little
daughter OF two-and-and-a-half years
The parents did not suppose that the
tiny creature was old enough TO notice
any peculiarities in her fathers speech
One day. when he was giving the child
a ride on his foot. she looked up at him
with an ecastatic smile.
My God. what good time we're hav-
In" she lisped.
The father set her down and started 20
his feet. Where did the child ever pick
up such an expression7" he exclaimed.
Il won't have my baby taught pro-
fanityi"
Then you must not use II In her
presence" the mother rejoined quietly.
1t Is certain that children have an apti-
tude for learning the things we would
not have them learn. The vulgar word
heard on the street, the rough expietive
uttered by playmate. Is repeated with a
parrot-like accuracy that makes even the
unorthodox almost believe in natural de-
pravity.
One nurse bewaiicd the fact that her
charge would not learn the prayer she
had tried for weeks to teach him, yet
af he
rhyme sung in his presence by a small
street urchin.
Such being the case. II behooves us par
ents 20 guard our speech. Not that we
are prone TO profanity or vulgarlty. but
we do use slang moro than we realize.
Tho man who says to his small son.
"C0n that racket" instead OF stop that
noisei" need not be surprised II the lad
finds such expressions more neutral than
he does English undefiled.
We cannot keep our children from the
use Of some Of these phrases common
among their playmates and school,
mates. but we can try 10 have them hear
enough good English In their homes 20
make them familiar with correct speech.
This WILL to some extent. dilute" the
less refined language.
Even babies may be taught the right
instead OF the wrong things One won
ders therefore. why some parents talk
10 their children in an idiotIc prattle that
Is an insult 10 an infant of average In
telligence.
And how was 90 dis mornln. my
tootsle-wootsle?" Goose the loving mother
as she kisses her baby. "she's NOM
moos petty sing. amt she?''
Does such senseess patois denote SUI
perior quality OF affection7 IL certainly
does not indicate a high grade OF intel
lecti One might say just as tender
things in sane and grammatical phrase
ology / know one woman who TO this
day perpetuates the phrases OF her silly
mother to such an extent that she al
ways greets her intimate friends with
How is 'oo7''
We all know that what's funny In the
kitten isn't funny In the cat. But was
such talk as that ever funny even in the
most dlminutive kitten2
1 would not suggest that the child be
corrected in his own sweet baby-prattle.
IL he is so young that he says "goggie"
instead Of "doggie." let him say II. As
he learns to form his words more cor
rectly he will lose the baby phraseology
ali too soon for our liking.
One little girl never learned TO say
Fish until she was years old. but
always spoke OF ''fiss," and her parents
smiled affectionateiy at the error and let
a pass That was WISE. But why teach
a child to say ''geegec' instead Of
horse" or ''choo-choo'' instead OF car
OF tell him he may have a ride In the
''honk-honk' instead OF an automobile 2
Surely even childish lips can say auto
as easily as ''honk-honk''i
While we are on this subject Of correct
speech for the child. and the example
that may DO set him Ia the proper use
OF his mother tongue. may l be permit
ted to repeat that which l have told
elsewhere OF a mother who. unconscious
of her own faults OF phraseology. wished
her husband 20 correct his sons frequent
use OF slang.
..y dear" she said, ITS the limit the
way Jack reels off slang. It's up to yot
10 make him cut Il outl'
Ia anv further comment necessary