Omaha daily bee., 1919-08-17
Kin dergarten HELP for
Parents
Littlest Child Can Be Taught Self-Reliance.

for him and if l don't he cries. l
know l pet him too much, but try
him and see ii you can teach him
something | can't"
Joseph looked impervious to
knowledge, but | had no reason to
anticipate that he would prove at
all troublesome. Goodbye, be
good boy" called his mother from
the door. For the first time Joseph
demonstrated that he possessed
some sense of what was going on
outside of himself. His screams
brought his mother quickly back,
and from one penny she raised to
two, and finally offered everything
she had. But to no avail, for he
still continued to stamp and scream.
And so requested her to leave, as
surfing her that all would be we'll.
With tears in her eyes she said: DO
let me take him home; | think he is
very much of a baby" But | was
obdurate and refused, for ! knew
that with every added day of her
overindulgence his road would only
grow the harder.
Surrounded by new and lively as
sociates of his own age, Joseph soon
forgot his mother and himself. and
although he was not very active at
first, each succeeding day developed
mere interest and expression, until
finally his mother was able to see
smile on his face when she babe him
goodby at the opening OF the morn
ing session.
But what labors we had taken
upon our hands with her helpless,
pi.iful pet! How much harder his
little battle through life had been
made and how much unhappiness he
suffered!
Many a mother thinks the age be-
tween 3 and 4 much too early to lay
the foundations of self-reliance in
her children. She says; MY child
is too young to learn yet When he
goes to school he will be taught to
do everything and that is time
enough" And so she waits upon
him day and night, amuses him when
he appears silent or lonesome, pro-
vides for his every want, and seldom
asks him for a response of any
kind. In fact, she absorbs his whole
personality, impressing her own
where his should have a chance to
demonstrate itself.
Froebel said: Our children must
learn to do, by doing" Then what
happiness, individuality and calm,
deliberate department even at the
early age of 4 they must possess,
and what self-controlled, law-abiding
citizens they may become if only
mothers will try day by day to de-
velop their self-reliance!
How shall this be done? Just
teach your child to dress himself, to
wash his hands and face, to lace his
shoes, to comb his hair, to button
his coat to use his spoon, knife and
fork. Commend his initial tugs and
struggles and sooner or later those
struggles will be converted into
finished actions. And hands so
trained at home will later in school
life grasp scissors more firmly and
handle crayon and pencil with a
much finer precision.
TIL llC lHliu udy Will HUN ~
sponsibiities: The care of gar
den, of cat or dog, care of toys and
care and proper place for clothes.
Help him to anticipate your wants,
and give him the joy of waiting
upon you. Have him run little err
rands for your scissors, your
needles, your thread, Let him care
for baby brother or sister once in a
while. There will be lots of time
besides for play and greater value
placed upon play time. Such duties
to child are not burdens, but real
delight, because they develop in him
, sense of independence and help
= fulness.
Helpfulness to reach all the par
ents of the country by cutting this
, out and passing it on to friend.