Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1916-09-20
YOUR BOYS and GIRLS.

Your baby should spend most of it's
Indoor life in a nursery free from damp.
exposed to sunshine and with free
ventilation. There must be freedom
from dust gathering carpets and fur.
niture and filth harboring cracks in
the floor. There must be absolute
cleanliness in every condition sur
rounding the child's life.
It's bed must be far enough away
at night from that of the adults to
ance of currents of air to avoid rheu-
matism. painted toys on account of
possible poisoning. the avoidance of
wooden or feather toys.
You should weigh the infant care
fully each week. on a correct standing
scale. to determine if it's gain is what
it should be. if properly fed. Unless
there is some definite contra indica-
ton a child should be bathed every
morning in water adapted to it's vital
ity, never so cold as to cause blueness.
or cold eXtremities. or so hot as to
prove injurious.
Who OF us do not remember the
childish fear that often came when our
mothers closed the door or turned off
the light with her goodnight kiss? Tho
fear of the dark room is something all
most sure to be found in every child.
There may De strange animals in the
dark. or burglars, or supernatural be-
1ngs! Or there may merely be a haunt
Ing terror OF something unknown. Such
fears must never be laughed at. The
pest plan is to make home seem a very
safe place, where father and mother
are always near. Later on will come
the time when the child may be taught
physical and mental bravery.
Perhaps this way of helping timid
chlldren to sleep in a strange bed may
help. Make a rag baby of unbleached
muslin. fully large as a real,baby, stuff
it with cotton batting, make eyes, nose
and mouth with ink. Make a night
gown for it. It's u~nbreakable, and soft
II they happen to fall upon it; and lots
of comfort. Such a rag baby can be
used five years.. 1t will help in teach
ing children to sleep alone in the room;
In time the baby is forgotten alto
xether.
In u training of children we are
constantly tempted to contradict our
selves. AT one time we appeal to their
bravery, we solicit courage for doing
this or that, for enduring pain or dis
comfort. Shortly we have occasion to
call upon fear of injury, or of disap-
prevail. In the one case we eXalt cour-
age and laud it as the highest of vir-
tues n remind the child of all the
heroes we have not yet forgotten. But
in a few hours we exalt prudence and
remind him Of the miserable fate of the
foolhardy who did not look twice before
they leap.
= 10 AAOI ACSSsSdA y, however, 10 sup
pose that courage and caution exclude
a other. Fea as a help in train
ing is a double edged weapon We have
learned that obedience based on fear
will turn into defiance at the critical
point. Parents who rule through q
sympathetic understanding and firm
hold of the child's needs are far more
successful than those who arouse fear.
Fear in children arises from the ne
cessity Of dealing with the unknown.
Children are afraid of the dark because
there is no telling Of what may and
what may not be there. A child may
be made familiar with the dark, as
when someone in whom he has conf
dence stays with him and keeps his
attention, until he is quite at east
among the shadows. The familiar
never causes fear.
Caution, on the other hand, arises
from judgments based on knowledge.
1t is a known danger that leads to pru-
dence and care. 1t steadies the mus
cles instead of making one tremble.
because it is SO largely a matter of
thought and understanding rather than
a matter of feeling, as is the case with
fear. The more a child knows about
things in his little world the more like
ly he is to be fearless.