Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-01-02
MAKING THE MOST OF
OUR CHILDREN
A Series of Plain Talks to
Parents
esA "a
By Ray c. Beery, ABB, MA.
President Of the Parents Association.

Look out the window-what in
the world is that child up to now?"
asked a mother as she started for
the door.
And considering the variety of
stunts an e-minded boy can
pull off in the course of single day,
it really is n wonder mothers have
as much patience as they have.
Some children naturally are more
mischievous than others. A mis-
chievous boy generally is a bright
boy OF course, q child can be bril-
liant without being mischievous.
The difficult task of the parent is
to keep up with child of the mis-
| chievous type-to be one jump
ahead of him, SO to say.
Let us take an interesting case. A
mother writes to me: r
II have a boy that is up to some
mischief every minute almost. 1t
seems that he just must be into
something continually. He not only
annoys us but often the neighbors.
This morning he took up brick
walk in carrying out some idea he
got into his head and you can i'm
agine what he does when he is in
the house. Please give me some
suggestions" -u7 h.''a
/ like a boy like yours who Is in
the up and doing" class. lie Is of
the hopeful type.
Show an earnest interest in all of
his activities. Talk about his ideas
and plans with enthusiasm. Get
him gradually into the habit of
taiking over his plans with you be-
fore putting them into execution.
or course, he will not always do
this, but by making him feel that
he is rewarded for coming to you
by adding suggestions and enthusi-
asm to his original ideas, he will be
much inclined to consult you. This
will be desirable from your stand
point because, when you find it
necessary, you can direct his mind
away from that which is to be for
hidden and toward that which is
permissible.
BY showing a friendly interest al
ways in his own schemes, you make
1t easy for your own suggestions to
influence him. To keep up with"
boy of this type. it is often con-
/ 'venient to make suggestions as to
what to do, the execution of which
will occupy great deal of time in
way that is least disturbing to
other persons and things on the
premises. For example, play up in
his mind the desirability of attract
ing some fine birds to your premises.
After he shows an interest, ask him
IL he knows enough about using q
hammer and saw to make q suita BILE
bird box himself in which the birds
could make nests. Help him with
the plan. Have him come to you
often to ask questions (and inciden-
tally get more enthusiasm Or,
have him make some flower boxes
for you to use in the house. Just
anything to keep him occupied in
helpful way. Always keep ahead of
him with few ideas to make use
OF when you most need them.
The next time he does ANYTHING
like taking up a walk without ask
ing, call him to you without any
sign that you are disgusted. When
he comes talk to him somewhat in
this manner: Charles, / don't want
to say anything to you that will
make you feel badly, but after this.
when you want to remove a walk
or anything like that come first to
mother and find out If it is all right.
You can remember, can't you? Can
you put the bricks just right with
out me helping you? All right, I'll
be out pretty soon and watch you
and see how you are getting along"
Each time that he forgets, take
him to task In the quiet, friendly