Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-12-26

Tt would seem at first thought
that any home affording protection
and supplying good things to eat ans
wear ought to satisfy boy.
And yet, when we come to ponder
the question, we realize that these
conditions alone are not the only fac
tors determining happiness by any
ueans. A boy must have sympathy
he must have encouragement, he
must have some one to appreciate
him. Otherwise, he will not be salts
fled.
Thousands of children to-day who
are given adequate shelter and phys
icaI uourishment are far from salts
fed with the home environment.
Children not satisfied at home, ma
turally will go elsewhere, and so we
have problems of keeping children
interested in their homes.
To take a simple case, one mother
writes:
"Wul you please tell me what to
do with a boy ten years old who
won't stay home? All he thinks of is
going. When he finishes his break
fast, if l don't keep close watch on
him, he is gone. We get him every
thing he needs, but he likes to roass
all over town"
Your boy thinks he gets more
pleasure in going away from home
than he does at home. That is the
principal cause of his -Yanting TO go
all the time. Therefore, it would bo
~ good thing for you to learn what
he does away from home that is so
Fascinating. Does he fly kites? Make
it n point to talk to him and his
,,1o IN, n Ft.inTa1Ixr IWhan
you discover what interests him
most, perhaps you could introduce
something of a like nature at home,
which in connection with your own
announcement and friendly cooper
alton would keep him at home in a
most natural way.
He should devote at ledtAt a part Of
each day to certain regular duties
not merely for the sake of things ac-
complished, but for his own good.
The performance of duty is whole
some. Get him to make you some
flower boxes or something of that
kind which requires the use of tools
and thus you will have an excellent
opportunity to approve him on his
ability and industriousness. Show
some enthusiasm. Don't merely say,
That's right" open up a bit. Laugh
with him, show some real life. Ad-
Nmire his work. Make lots of sugges-
tions, all tending to make him like
the work. At first it is advisable not
TO mention points that could have
been improved but put all your at
tention on the good points.
Instead of keeping such close
watch on this boy after breakfast to
keep him from running off, change
YN1p Ax-1 10 nv.
range to have him speak to you be-
fore leaving the premises. Have him
tell you also where he is going. Then,
when you know this, you can grant
him the privilege or not just as you
see fit. and under this arrangement
you will have more control than un-
der your present plan.
Some time. just after you have
been having a good time with him
or have shown him some appreci-
ated consideration and he is in the
best spirits, talk to him somewhat
in this fashion: Harold, L have a
new plan that L want you to help
me carry out. If anyone should come
here to see you and couldn't stay
long, and you did not happen to
be home, I would want to know ex-
actly where to find you so that you
and the visitor could get TO see each
other. Then. too, I might want you
to do something for me or 1 might
want you to so some place with me
and I would want to know just
where you were. So starting with
tomorrow morning, I shall ask you
to come to me tomorrow before
leaving the yard still, and tell me
where you are going. You can re-
member this, can't you?"
When trying to gain control of a
boy who is out of control, don't try
10 go too fast. Bring him back into
control gradually. Gain one little
point at a time and be absolutely
firm. Don't argue with him. Simply
tell him in a calm way what you