Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-10-26
Training Little Citizens
By Bertha Johnston
Courtesy and Consideration

In every home opportunities should be made for the little children to practice consideration and care for something weaker than themselves. The cherishing instinct, both in the individual and the family, needs cul- tivation and direction. It is manifest ed in the love of little girls for their dolls and in the devotion of boys to their pets. If this quality of nurture is not exercised or properly directed, it withers; for affections must be ex- ercised if they are to develop. We often see spoiled children in Ameri- can families, where all their desires are gratified without effort on their own part and they are given no op- portunity to serve. Many mother virtually makes slave of herself for her children, humoring every whim, and relieving them of all care, trouble and responsibility, only to find when they are grown that they are utterly selfish and inconsiderate.
 Unfortunate, too, is the only child or the youngest member of the fam fly, who is overindulged, with no more dependent member of the household to call forth his tender feelings. Here in lies one great value of the kinder garten, where children are given op- portunities to help those younger than themselves.
 For the child without companions in the home, the parent should pro- vide occasions that require service or sacrifice for others. Arrange to have his friends come frequently to play with your little one, and share his toys, suggesting that the little guests must have the best.
 Adaptability is gained through com- panionship with ones equals. From association with boys, little girls learn something of fair play, and be- come acquainted with the sturdier virtues; while, from girls, the boys learn to have chivalrous attitude to- ward womankind.
 The instinct of nurture is develop ed through the care of a garden or pets, for child must exercise thought and put it into practice, in order to obtain results. Then, too, generosity and respect are stimulated by sharing the fruits of his care, little boquet for mother head of lettuce for a neighbor, an extra kitten for play mate.
 If pets have young, the childs mother should call attention to the care of the mother for her little ones, and her courage and self-sacrifce whenever the young are endangered.
 A child should be taught to take en- tire charge of his pets, to weed and care for his garden, if he is to re- ceive the full benefit in character development and achieve the self respect which comes from responsibil- ities accepted.
 Then, too, good manners which spring from consideration are as es- sential to the happiness of the world as are good morals, and parents should be examples of both to their children. How often virtuous people make us unhappy by their lack of tact. Cour- tesy and graciousness smooth out rough places of life. A tiny boy of 3 can raise his hat and one of 5 can rise at table and push mother's chair into place. When older people enter a room, children should rise; in fact, they should be taught to practice all the little daily civilities. But courteous manners are taught slow ly, flor precept must be upon pre- cept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here little and there little" Many man of good character has greatly limited his use- fitness by his lack of "polish," be- cause his mother, either from stupid ity or overindulgence, neglected his social training!
 At this momentous time, it is espe- cially important that all means pos- sible be employed to foster the in stinct of caring for the weak and de- pendent.
 It would be we'll if more children were made to feel responsible for some child of less favored circum- stances. It is astonishing how boys and girls will rise to the occasion when responsibility is placed upon them. In 1913 my 11-year-old niece who lived in London, had "godchlld' in another city, to whom she wrote monthly letter, and sent little gifts at Christmas-time and other holidays:
 At the present time the millions of little allied orphans should make strong appeal to the childhood of America. Correspondence between them would not only teach our chll- dren consideration for others and develop their familiarity with for eign language, but it would also help cement the friendship of America with her allies and greatly promote the cause of Internationalism
 This is No. 1 of series of articles issued by the National Kindergarten Association. Help to reach all par ents by cutting this out and passing it on to friend.
 eve hear a lot of talk of the eight-hour day." says MT. David Gibson, "but the clock does not mea- sure full day swork. Some do more work in seven hours than oth- CTS do in 1O.'