The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-10-16
The Child Who Sulks
~ n. ApoIN0ToN BRUCE.
Author Of THE Riddle of Personality.
Psychology and Parenthood. ETC.

Nobody likes sulky child. Sulklness Is recog-
nized as something foreign to the natural Attn
tude of childhood, and IL arouscs, even In par
ents resentful feelings. Unfortunately II does
not always arouse In parents, as shouio, a
determination to find out just why their child
sulks
calculated to increase the child's sulkiness. They
punish him they neglect him, lavisnins tner
affection on some more amiable brother or sister,
This does not mend matters Inc cnanSes W
that n will make the child more sullsn. ~ MO
atng feelings OF envy and jealousy.
What the sulky child really needs 10 SYM
pathy and THOROUGH MENIAL AM W
auent sulkiness II always sign That something
Is seriously wrong.
Sometimes the sulkiness Is entirely due to .
mentaI--or more strictly speaking, morale
formity caused by UNwIsE UPBRINGlNG IN
THE FIRST YEARS OF LIFE
The child was then petted and spoiled. being
swamped with toys. and given MS own way In
everything Thus habits Of SELF1SHNESS ana
UNDUE SELF-ESTEEM were established
When later the parents awoke to the necessity
OF moral discipline, there was cpnnict between
the established habits and the new Ideas OF al
truism and seIf-control.
And, precisely because habits OF seinshness
and egotism have been established. SULkINESS
RESULTED FROM THE BELATEp AND I'M
PERFECT EFFORT TO DEVELOP The CHAH-
ACTER Alright.
Often, however, suIhiness Is symptomatic. not
OF moral deformity, but Of some unsupported
PHYSICAL 0eIeCL 'tnht 10 hCtih8 No y SohSbhhs
source Of irritation
In one case that has come to my knowledge.
sulkiness that had persisted tn spite OF the most
sympathetic treatment. vanished after Few ses-
slons with the dentist.
The child had not complained Of his teeth. and
nothing was known OF their diseased condition
until he was taken TO psychological clinic. u
be tested for feeblemndedness. The dreadful
suspicion had arisen In his parents minds that
his colossal sulkiness was due TO lack OF brain
matter.
Al the clinic n was found that naturally he
was bright enough. But II was also found that
the guns OF his teeth were swollen and nnamed
Examination by dentist then disclosed that he
had not shed all his first teeth properly, and
that the second teeth forcing Themselves
through alongside the old ones. causing inces
SAINT and intoerable pressure
II was an easy matter to relieve this by ex.
traction of the outgrown teeth. With their re-
Of the past.
Similarly children have been cured Of sulki-
ness by operations for the removal Of adenoid
growths. by the prescribing OF spectacles for
their defective eyes, and by the Swinging OF wax
mpeded ears.
Defects like these are frequent causes Of ncr-
vous strain. which. in the case OF growing chill
dren, Ia likely to manifest itself In sulkiness
Or, again, the sukness may be Indicative Of
la GENERAL FUNCTIONAL WEAKNESS OF
THE SYSTEM. calling for tonics. exercise, and
perhaps dieting.
Always, therefore, the wise parent will not
punish or scold his sulking child. He will In
stead recognize that the sulkiness is symptom
Of moral. mental. or physical disease. and must
be carefully treated