Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-02-26
Plea For Children Welfare
KeynOtes ''IustdEat Obedience
Mrs. Helen Paulsen Tells In
dianapolis Mothers of Duty
Lectures at Library.

Mrs. Helen B. Paulsen, a mother and
a teacher who has devoted her life to
the study of child welfare, is carrying a
big message TO the parents of Indian
apolis.
In teaching a child obedience, it is
instantaneous obedience to principle, to
right living and not the caprice of
changeable parent or adult that should
be sought" says Mrs. Paulsen. in an in
tervlew today. 'Be careful that your
child does not learn watchful waiting
rather than instant obedience"
Mrs. Paulsen asserts that contrary to
the opinion Of most grown-nps, the pc
RODS of transition in a child's life to-
day are very similar to those their par
ents went through when children.
1t Is simple matter to know the
method of discipline to use with your
child" says Mrs. Paulsen. as the meth
Cd you use bringing the child close to
You so that he can come to you for
counsel and help in the teen age? II 1t
is, 1t Is correct Is the method you use
taking him further away so that he can
not come to you for counsel and help?
It is wrong. 1t is the kind that maketh
not afraid that should be used"
Most parents lose the companionship
of their children before they are four
years old, according to Mrs Paulsen. who
points out that parents can not expect
to lose such companionship when the
child is young and then get 1t back
again in later years.
PARENTS SHOULD
LISTEN TO CHILDREN.
When little Joe or Mary come running
into the house with their shoes and
clothing dirty, eager to tell something.
they should be permitted to tell their
story at once
Most parents seeing dirt on the chill
, dren's shoes will order them to clean
up at once, and then come and tell their
story" says Mrs Paulson. "As re-
suit they never get that story the little
| child has been so anxious to toll, and
for the sake of something that does not
amount to much, parents will sacrifice
the companionsMp OF children. And only
for a difference in time Of two minutes .
The greatest need children have In
life is TO have parents who are sympa-
thetic listeners, Mrs. Paulsen believes.
81 don't want to see sex hygiene
call it physical hygiene taught in the
schools-but I do want to see the moth
ers and fathers able to teach their chill
dren when they come to them with big
questions about life" says Mrs. Paulsen.
For II they don't get an answer from
| their parents 10 their questions they VIII
| 60 outside of their homes and get IT."
| Mrs. Paulsen tells the following story
of a young man who persisted In keeping
late hours at the home OF his sweetheart.
THE girls father finally told her IL
was time for the young man to go home.
| The young man remarked to the daugh-
| ter that her father seemed TO be a
crank, The father overheard. Well.
young man. he replied, 1t takes a crank,
| you know, when there Is no self starter
DUTY OF MOTHER
TO START STARTER.
But young men tell me that the rea-
son they don't get home earlier from
calling on their girls is because the
girls won't let them. SO It is up to
the mothers to see that their daughters
help the young men to get started on
time. Even a self starter needs some
body to start It."
Mrs. Paulsen believes in good times OF
the right kind for children and young
people and she insists that II IS the
duty of parents and communities to pro-
vide the means for their having good
times during their leisure hours.
Mrs. Pauisen spoke to alarge audi