The Washington herald., 1920-07-09
Use TACT WITH CHILDREN.

There is no one so stupid as not
to realize that IL is tact that lubri-
Gates the wheels of society, and
makes 1t possible for US to live on
pleasant terms with our fellow
creatures.
without the exercise OF diplomacy
nations could not maintain their
entente cordiale. without the use
of policy, lawyers and doctors
would lose their clients and patients
and merchants their customers.
None Of us have dealings, II we can
help ourselves. with those who are
blunt and rough. and who thrust
unpalatable home truths down our
unwilling throats.
We turn from them to those wfo
are suave and gracious, and VINO
suEar-coat 50 tastily whatever Pill
they administer to us that we gulp
Il down easily. and ask for more.
Recognizing thus the value OF d.
pIomacy in the outside world. II Is
a matter of perpetual wonder that
SO few people think II worth while
to install this friction-saving de-
vice in their family circles. Some
how they seem to think that while
tact IL the proper dish to set be-
fore company. II is too good for
daily home consumption.
Thus you rarely see a husband
and wife who use the slightest poll
icy in dealing with each others lit
tie peculiarities. They never put
on their kid gloves when they come
to handle a delicate domestic situa-
ton. Rather they get out their
brass knuckles. and go Tor each
others weak spots with the sure
knowledge that experience mas
eiven as to where the other Ia most
Vulnerable, and where a blow will
hurt most.
A.for children. perish the thought
that parents should condescend to
use any tact in coping with them.
or take the trouble of getting
around the angles Of little Johnny
and Mary's disposition instead OF
humping into them. with results
that are unpleasant to all concerned.
Somebody has said that there is
a delicate way around every difh-
Guilty. Certainly II Is the circuitous
route that leads most surely to =
child's consciousness, and one do"
IL worth more than thousand
"don'ts" TO any boy or girl.
For this reason no child should
ever be corrected in public. II
John eats with his knife. or Mary
spots the tablecloth. don't call their
attention to their lapse In good
manners before strangers. Wait un-
til the psychological moment comes
when you are alone, and John and
Mary are in a mood to hear reason
and then recall their offenses; and
in sheer agratitude to you for hav-
ing spared their feelings they will
mend their manners. Ten minutes
quiet talk at bedtime will work
more reformation in any child than
ten years OF incessant nagging.
There is no better way to empha-
size a child's faults than by forever
dred times a day that you don't
know what will become OF him be-
cause he Is so careless. and he viii
begin to take a pride in scatterins
things about and making a cult of
carelessness.
Be forever at Mary for being so
awkward. and she will become so
self conscious she will be forever
falling over her own, feet and so
butter-ingered she will drop ev-
erything she touches. Sigh contin-
ually over James terrible temper
and Jane will become convinced she
has some sort Of divine commission
to be temperamental and indulge in
RACES.
On the other hand. you can diplo-
matically represent to John that az
clever a boy as he In must realize
that he can never achieve his am-
bitions In life unless he becomes an
expert In detail. and you will make
him q stickler for order. Instead
Of criticising Mary. natter her and
thCS you Will give her tha salf.