The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-11-04
Stop Nervous
Runaway in Child
With Firm Hand
BY DIR. LENA K. SADLER.
Author Of The Mother ard He,
Child.-

ChiId.'
IN 1HETiF.R the child Is three
" years OF age or ten years Of
age. and the parents discover
That the nervous system is Closing
ing on Il nervous runaway or that 1t
Ia about to indulge in an emotional
sprawl. 1t IL best to interfere sud-
denly and spectacularly.
Lay firm hand on him and bring
ham to sudden stop. Speak to- him
calmly and deliberately: rather
quietly. but firmly. Sit him on
chair, put him in his bed or take
him to room and isolate him. In
the case of older children tell them
a story Of horse which becomes
frightened, loses self-control and
tears on down the highway. wrecklng
the vehicle and throwing out its oc-
cupants
Explain to them that many Of the
mistakes OF life are made during the
time OF these emotional runa ways
these passing spells OF lost self CON
troll, Tell the little folks that YOU
have perfect confidence in them II
they will only take time to stop and
think before they talk or act
Explain to them that since You
saw they were rapidly approaching a
foolish climax YOU thought II was
~ your duty to call a halt; to stop them
long enough to enable them to collect
their wits and indulge in some sober
thinking.
My personal experience has been
that II is a good plan not to be arbi-
trary with the little folks BY putting
them on a chair and saying: You've
got to sit there an hour by the clock
They usually begin to indulge In re-
sentiment and a situation is often pro
duced akin to that Of the stern father
who felt compelled to go back and
thrash his boy three different times
during his hour on the chair because
OF what he was satisfied was going
ON through the boys mind.
No. that's not usually the best
way. Put them on the chair with
an indeterminate sentence.
Il like to carry IL out something like
this; Now. Johnny. that will never
do You're running away with your
self. Stop for moment and think
Little man, I'm going to ask YOU to
sit down on this chair and think this
thing over quietly. I'll be In the next
room. and whenever you think you We
Eot control OF yourself and have
thought this thing out 90 that You
can talk with me you may get up
from this chair and come into the
room 10 me.
Sometimes five minutes, sometimes
fifteen minutes. pass before the lit
tie fellow will walk in and talk with
you In a very satisfactory manner.
He will give you his viewpoint. and
you will be able to adjust the matter
In q spirit OF conference which Will
be satisfactory to both parent and
child without doing the least violence
to the responsibility of the one or the
Individuality of the other.
Very little Is to be accomplished
when the child starts TO indulge in
an emotional runaway il the parent
contracts the same feeling and begins
to talk fast and loud, geatlcnlate
wildly, grabs the child. and begins
to slap II and shake 1t. That Is merely
disposition on the part of the par
ent Of the very same weakness he is
trying to correct In his offspring.
am afraid II Is entirely too true that
for every time you shake one demon
out Of a child In anger you shake in
seven worse devils.