The Detroit times., 1915-10-27
Among the Movies
Your Child's Room
~ n. ApplNcToN BRUCE,
Author Of The Riddle OF Personality.
Psychology and Parenthood." etc.

Every parent ought to know that in the up
bringing of a child few things are OF more I'M
portance than the arranging Of the childs ply
steal surroundings WITH REGAH , D ~ IHE aF
HIS MIND. Especially important Is the proper
furnishing and decorating of the room in which
| he has to spend most of his time.
The Importance Of this arises from two facts,
the extreme suggestibility of childhood. and the
profound and lasting influence exercised by the
Impressions of childhood
So suggestible are children that every object
in their environment contributes to the shaping
Of their character and their interests. uncon-
sciously they accept and act on the ideas sug-
gested to them by whatever they hear or see
When therefore, they are daily subjected to
environmental influences Of a specific kind, 1t
usually happens that their mind acquires defn-
tie set in accordance with these influences.
This result has been noted by numerous inyes-
tigators. Thus one astute observer, New YORK
physician with psychological training. reports:
sThe refined tastes and joyous disposition OF
the children in a family with whom often came
into contact was a matter OF some surprise TO
me, az could not account for the common trait
among them by the position or special charac-
teristics of the parents. They were In the hum
blest position socially, and all but poor.
my first visit to their modest home furnished
me with the natural solution, and gave me much
food for reflection
"The c.ildren-there were six-occupied two
rooms into which the sunlight was pouring as
entered. The color and design OF the cheap wall
4 paper were cheerful and unobtrusive. Bits of
lcaspst the tabiecover, and the coverlets on the
csAs were all in harmony. and of quiet design
n nearly the elementary colors.
EVERYTHING In these poor rooms OF poor peo
ese ha0 BEEN chosen with the ruest judgment
= Tor aesthetic effect"
al There II here Q valuable hint for all parents
y NOT . question OF spending money to give
child luxurtous surroundings. Il IL wholly a
question Of showing discrimination in the choice
~ the childs room. - "
c Simplicity should be the keynote Glazing
}, colors and inharmoni0us contrasts should he
= avoided In selecting pictures for the walls OF
a the room. ONLY THOSE SHOULD BE CHOSEN
THAT WILL APPEAL PLEAsURABLY To
e THE CHILD's MIND AND AROUSE HIt
= ICURIOSITY.
!. 1t rs possible, indeed. by a wise arrangement
4 of his room to create LOVE OF LEARNING
: that will be Of lifelong value to the child an
0 will count for much In his mental development
personally am acquainted with several pa
. ent who have thus utilized the suggestive fore
| Of the environment to develop In their childre
D q real fondness for study. One OF these parent
3 ID Doctor Boris sidis, father OF that remarkab
. boy william James Sidis. who entered Harvar
I University before he was twelve.
While he still was mere infant, his fathe
fitted up for this boy special room. On III
I walls hung some attractive pictures, and in
: were placed toys OF q scientific character.
But the outstanding feature OF the room. 3
situated that II was the first thing the chill
saw every morning when he awoke, was sma
bookcase
This contained the ordinary story-books O
childhood. And II also contained BOOKS Oh
, lSERlOUS INTEREST-histories, biographies
. lscientific primers. etc
The child was not asked to read these. Hi
! rather believed that curiosity would impel hin
TO read them, and to ask for explanations O
tneif contents. Events have proved that DIR
eldls was right.
Any parent can likewise employ the sugges
= I've -{o9ce Of the environment--AS AN AID
s iSVs&x 40 TRAINING AND ExAMPLE--tc
q fDeEE " sh11's mental pow