Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1921-10-07

I no 'ShuOiAN9 " tdhe innings apart
/ IS the childish replaca of the adult
interest in scientific research and in
Vestigation. We all so through the
Bulge and Teddy stage when we
Want to see the wheels go round
The Heavenly Twins of the story
were not phenomena, but character
/ istic little folks. Curiosity, another
instructive activity. is closely allied
to the Workmanship tendency. In
tellectual interest, the restless desire
to know, is the basis of intellectual
/ development. | have no patience
with parents who will not answer
the thousand and one questions of
the live little minds of their chill
dren, but tell them to Run and play
or shut up, papa's tired 1t is the
golden opportunity to open the doors
of truth and beauty and life for the
child. Crazy questions? OF course
they are odd, from the adult point
! OF view. But they show the child's
utter newness to the world of
thought as we know it, and they are
/ our big chance to introduce him to
truth.
The sregarious instinct is strong
/ IN children. They are very social
beings The only child is to be
pitied, because of all that he misses.
He should have companions. The
give and take he learns from them
is Of inestimable value to his char
acter. If you have but one child,
let him mix with other children out
side, and don't shield him. If he
comes running in with the complaint
that Willie slapped me don't pity
and comfort and coddle him; ask
him, What did you do?' He will
have to stand on his own feet in the
world some day; let him begin early
to feel the necessity of making his
own place in his little world.
"Suggestibility varies with differ
ent children. but can be made
powerful instrument for good if it
is used Alright. Through it you may
control conduct, guide the reading
and develop the taste for books, in
/ fluence the choice of companions,
and reach the child's inner life in
innumerable ways.
Imagination is strong in most
children. They live in a fancy world.
Some parents mistake this for a lack
of a sense of truth. He tells the
worst lies all the time says one
mother, quite blind to the fact that
the child is merely living in a world
of make-believe, like thousands of
other children. Don't try to crush
out the fairy fancies; encourage
them. They are valuable as a part
of mental growth.
practically all children tell I'M
truths. The period of little lies will
usually be outgrown The great
danger is that the child. through
wrong handling at this period, will
be arrested in mental and spiritual
growth in this stage of development,
and thus become a habitual liar.
"Childrens fears are probably
somewhat instructive, as the fear of
the dark, and of lonely places. and
loud noises. Don't blame or berate
children for these instructive fears,
but help him to overcome them.
When l take my little boy into a
dark room to get something I take
care that he is sure I am near and
that he is safe with me. I have a
picture | am fond of, that shows a
little child in its nightie on the
stairs, Where bears are so apt to
follow one When my children
came I put it away, until they are
grown beyond the stage where it's
suggestion would perhaps strengthen
the instructive fear of the dark. We
must be careful, too, about certain
time-honored stories which, though
delightful in themselves, are psycho-
logically bad, such as The Three
Bears and Red Riding Hood When
they are so young and inexperienced
of the world that they do not know
there are no wolves hiding behind
bushes in the yard, or bears coming
up to the bedside in the night, they
should not be told such stories. Help
your child to overcome his fears by
habituation. When he finds by re-
peated experience that he is safe in
the dark, the fear will gradually fade
away.
Study your child; understand
him, and help him. 1t will pay
enormously"
"A Scout is Clean