The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1919-12-25
RESPECT FOR cHiLD's POSSES.
SiONS

1t Is no wonder that during infanc.
and early childhood LIES lessons ar
so difficult for the small beginner whel
the laws which govern them mus
seem to him just or unjust, consisten
or inconsistent, according to the knowl
edge or the caprice OF the adult al
ministering them.
One of the first lessons which the
little chold should learn is the proper
care of his own possessions and re
spect for those OF others, and a mother
has the first opportunity to inculcatt
this important life lesson.
Since one of the strongest instincts
of the child is to initiate, there seems
no more logical way to teach this les
son than by example. II a mother
teaches her child not to touch the
articles on her desk or dressing table
without her permission, then has she
the right to dispose Of his toys with
out his permission?
The writer recalls an instance
where a mother secretly put away a
doll which had been given to her little
girl, and, for no reason except that
the child already had. a number of
dolls and this particular one was 'too
beautifully dressed to be played with
until the child was older"
Another common way of disregard
ing children's rights is to force them
to give up some new or much-prized
possession. For example. little girl
OF six, who was delighted with the
gift of a dolls fan, was obliged by
her mother to hand it to her scream
ing baby in order to quiet him. In
his excitement he soon crushed the
tiny toy, his screams increased, and
his little sister was broken-hearted! I!
Nor had the unjust and short-sightel
mother Saved the scene" which she
had hoped to avert.
In each of these cases the child
should have been consulted and her
permission given before the mother
disposed Of the plaything In this
way the mother could have explained
the reasons for her own action. and
the child, in her turn, would have had
an opportunity of expressing herself,
a habit which should be encouraged
Then. too. personal responsibility for
her possessions and the recognition Of
the right Of ownership would have
the difference between
mine" and thine"
There is no better way to create
habits OF orderliness and sense of
than by giving the child
a place for keeping his playthings and
then allowing him full control Of these
possessions.
Show him how to use his books,
how to take care of his toys, how to
protect his pets, and then see to It
that he has shelf or a small book
case for his books, play corner for
his toys, and an appropriate home for
his pets.
After playtime require him to put
away whatever he has been using,
and let him understand the necessity
for regular attention to his pets. Such
training will of necessity react upon
his character since possession entails
responsibility. Ownership also teaches
generosity, for without possession how
can a child learn to share?
1t may not be out Of place in ad,
vising parents to respect their chill
dren's possessions to add a warning
on behalf of the children. Do not
surround them with numberless
ready-made toys. Give them blocks,
boards, nails, few tools, hammers
saws, planes, spools, scissors, thread,
cloth, dolls, paper, crayons, clay, sand
and books. They will get more hap
piness from these possessions of con.
structive possibilities than from all
the finished toys of the biggest toy
shops in the land.
Childhood has its own way Of see.
ing, thinking, and feeling and nothing
is more foolish than to try to substi
tute our own for them"
Respect your child's right to his
possessions and he will learn to re-
spect the rights of others. and, with
such recognition, there will be no fear
for the outcome of his place in so
ciety. Help to reach all the parents
OF the country by cutting this out and
passing IL ON To q friand