The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-06-15

sort has taught that a young mother
holding tiny life in her grasp has
tremendous opportunity to develop
that life. She invented certain ma
terials to aid the child to help itself.
and certainly the results in child de-
velopment gained by her method in
many cases are wonderful.
Ellen Key Is another OF the great
women scholars who believes it is 4
mothers duty to teach the youn,
child to be self-reliant. AS she says,
ITO bring up child is carrying ones
soul in ones hand" 1t Is every mo-
Tiers duty to help her infant during
the formative period to help itself.
BY 80 doing children learn to make
tho most of themselves: they ara
happier. and are Of real service in
the home and outside.
Children who have not been panlr.-
cred by too many comforts and too
much care learn to do for themselves
under the most trying conditions. Thu
other day four little tots were found
m the rear of large tenement in the
Ghetto of Chicago. While the mothers
were away working during the heat
OF the day. the children found them
selves uncomfortable. They did not
dare go to the lake without getting
permission. 80 they all filled tin
basins with water. and after undress-
Ing sat in the water for more than q
half hour, looking after themselves
as their mothers might have done
had they been at home.
This incident should be a lesson 10
mothers to teach children to bath
themselves. dress themselves and
even look after their own comforts at
times. Speaking on this point Mrs
Miriam Finn Scott. a we'll known edr-
Gator. says: Even in our own times
though parents are usually affection.
ate enough and joyously furnish tina
infant with an abundance of elabor-
ate toys. most Of them ignore ths
souls and minds Of their children
without being conscious that they are
doing SO. For 1t Is just today that
We have really begun to discover that
the period lying between birth ana
or years Of age is the valuable
area in all the territory Of a human
life. Here Is new human continent
hitherto neglected. still unchartered
but recognized as an FL Dorado Of
future happiness"
There 10 big difference between
the right use OF a child's b,,ddin,,
faculties and forcing a child, Tia
simplest way to begin is TO use the
ordinary activities OF a child's nfa
such as bathing. dressing, eating
Playing and going to bed. This ron
tine work Is never looked upon a,
q source Of education. but rather n
bugbear to be gotten rid OF by doing
It for the child instead Of teaching
the little one to help itself. II a
child wears the right sort OF cloth
Ing he can be taught to dress and
undress at the age Of.
At first he may need your assist
ancs. but by teaching him how I,
handle a shirt. to put on his clothes
and to button them he will soon ac-
,Quire the most difficult processes con-
nected with the dressing and undres-
sing. 1t you find this work is irksome
at times. you can relieve the monotony
OF buttoning shoes and putting on
dress or rompers by Transforming
tho work into a pleasant game. When
once child acquires the art of dress
ing and undressing himself he will
b proud Of his work. and il he Is
offered assistance he win look upon
Il - . bit Of interference.