Williston graphic., 1919-01-23
Many mothers have asked me, "Do

Many mothers have asked me, "Do
you find that your kindergarten
training really helps you when you
are dealing with problems in your
home? My answer is invariably
EYES," ....
Two years Of thorough and stimu-
lating training in Froebeps wonder
full methods for teaching little chill
dren and several years of trying to
put those methods into practice could
not fail to give q mother more in
telligent and spiritual grasp of the
meaning of her children's activeness.
Thinking back over the past years
I have been trying to formulate some
of the practices that have helped me
over the hard places, and offer the
following to the mother who wishes
to make Of her children's early years
a period that they and she will re-
member with great joy.
/. When it is necessary TO restrain
a child from doing something wrong
or harmful, always suggest some
thing else he may do. Never issue
don't without proposing do.
2. In giving child permission to
play take care that his activities do
not develop into license. For he will
be happier if some limitations are i'm
posed to test his powers and help him
concentrate. For instance, if he is
playing with blocks or cutting from
paper, giving him permission to do
anything he pleases often results in
aimless or destructive activity. Some
suggestion from the mother to make
something-to furnish house, for
instance-stimulat and directs his
mind, while leaving him free to ex-
press himself.
8. Before command is given al
ways consider whether it is going to
raise an issue. If child refuses to
obey, do not always insist upon i'm
plicit obedience; your command may
not have been an entirely wise one.
Punish for disobedience, if necessary,
but do not raise avoidable issues.
"Breaking a child's will" is creul and
most harmful.
ways be sure that the cause is not
physical one, for fatigue and hunger
come easily to little people. Many
problems that are unsolvable before
meal are no longer problems after
ward.
5. Try to follow your children's
activities and to understand the in
stincts and inner laws from which
they proceed. View what they do in
the light of your intelligence and of
YOUR spirit. Such habit of watch
fulness and care prevents nervous ir-
ritation and enables you to enter into
and to encourage sympathetically ac-
tivities which are pleasing.
6. Be consistent in what you ap-
prove and disapprove. Do not one
day, because you are tired, reprove
child for something he had done
and the next day ignore the same
thing because you are rested.
7. Answer questions truthfully. A
child's mind does not always crave
details. Give him only broad state
ments. Build strong foundation OF
truth, to which details may be added
later. AS regards the vital questions
of the origin Of life be careful not
to give the child more than he asks
for. Do not force your buds to open
too early. The life of flowers and
birds is analogous to human life and
will tell you how to answer this ques-
tion
8. Avoid useless negations. If
there is no real reason why child
should have his requests, do not deny
them.
9. In regard to children's inter-
ruptions, consider whether what they
want you to do is not more impor-
tant than the special activity you
had planned for that moment. In the
last analysis, why do we mothers ex-
ist at all if not to give of our best
to our children and to meet their
needs as they show themselves?
10. The care of a child's body is
important, but it should not mon
opolize the mothers attention at the
expense of mind and spirit.
II. Cultivate a sense of humor IN
yourself and in your child. 1t is Won
Wonderful how many trying situa-
tions may be relieved through this
means.
12. Show a child the same respect
you would a grown person. What a
child resents most in being struck is
not the pain, but the insult to his
pride. go,
13. Do not leave your children
largely to the care of nurses, how
ever conscientious or seemingly IN
telligent they may be. Nurses min
ister mostly to the physical needs OF
little children, and the time soon
comes when they are no longer neces-