South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-10-14
Suggestions By Kindergarten Mothers

musement. The home can be made
more than this also.
Say. do this" in stead OF Don't
do that" II one form Of amuse-
ment must be taken away, suggest
something else in its stead.
BY. Mrs. Elvira Hyatt.
Modern ideas in regard TO child
training lay stress upon adhering
from the beginning TO certain set
times for feeding, sleeping. bathing.
and airing, for regular habits lay
the foundation Of moral teaching
They are also a boon to the mother,
resting her nerves and giving her
time 10 herself. which in turn again
acts 20 the beseht OF the child.
After physical needs have been
provided for. all the average normal
child needs is to be let alone. Many
babies are constantly over-stimulated
by mothers who adore them. 1t
takes a wise and unselfish mother 10
keep her baby quiet Systematically
and relegate him TO a warm. safe,
happy background"
Physicians agree that infants
under the age OF six months should
never be played with, or needlessly
handled or caressed, and that it may
be the dearest delight TO rock and
coddle the new infant, and to watch
| his sweet ways, the wise mother
will place him comfortably in crib
or carriage. and let him go TO sleep
/ by himself. preferably in the open
air. Babies treated in this sane, I'M
selfish fashion seldom cry except
for some good reason. Self-cOntrol
and self-reliance seem big words TO
apply to infant education, but these
virtues have their foundation in
earliest childhood. The child's Won
derful mysterious little personally
must have time TO develop rs -lt.
and growth and strength come in
the silence"
One of the first problems which
confronts the mother Is the unceas-
| ing activity of her small children.
I From the moment they can creep,
/ they are doing something" every
! minute OF the day. We simply can
not bid these restless creatures keep
still. for activity is the law Of
/ growth Instead we must learn to
! keep them busily and happily en-
| ployed, and TO substitute right activ-
tiles for wrong ones. Constant re-
/ preston makes a restless and un-
happy child. We must learn to
I recognize abundant energy as good.
( and TO turn il into right channels.
Bad and mischievious children are
/ simply the results of negative meth
/ DDS To is not enough to say Run
/ away and play" but a definite oc-
/ cupation should be suggested. The
positive upbuilding method is 70
say, do this" instead OF Don't do
, that" and if one form Of employ
ment must be taken away. something
/ else should be suggested
A recent Italian educator has de-
| clared that unnecessary restriction
i'm a childs life is a crime. There
/ must. be rules, of course. and chill
dren must learn to obey. but much
| friction can be eliminated by avoid
/ ing unnecessary commands. There
should be few rules. but these should
be firmly adhered to. II is infinitely
better not 10 give a command than
/ 10 let a child evade it. The habit
on teasing for a thing will never de-
/ velop IL this course is faithfully fol-
| lowed. Children brought up with
out rules or system are restless and
/ unhappy, but on the other hand. a
| blind obedience should not be be in
I sisted upon too long. The child can
I begin very early TO reason for him
self I'm small things; later the moral
/ fibre must be developed which will
/ enable him 20 choose TO do the right
thing because il is right, and TO
! recognize and obey the still small
voice within himself A desire for
right conduct must be awakened
/ The will does not begin 10 grow
until a definite choice can be made
| Strong Wills are good. and a parent
has no more right 10 break a child S
will than 10 break his arm or leg
| BE sure that your request is just
and whenever possible avoid a clash
of wills Forced obedience. or obed-
fence gained through fear, weakens
the child's Will power and fosters
cowsrdice and deceit.