Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1923-02-16
TEACHING CHILDREN TO AGREE
By Marion BrOwnfeld

Teaching children to agree means
so much to them all through life that
it should really be one of the first
principles in home-making. If chill
dren are taught to be fair and our
teous with one another, they have a
valuable equipment for popularity and
success in the world at large.
Harmony in the home, too, means
a happy ideal that will be cherished
through many trials, struggles and
h%ardships, an ideal that is an anchor
as sustaining as religion.
In many homes, unfortunately, the
one trial of family life, especially for
the mother constantly in contact with
it, is voiced in the wall: eff the chill
dren only wouldn't quarrel sol" Then
sometimes it is added: But l suppose
it is natural, and they'll get over it
some day."
Whether it is natural for children to
quarrel daily, really depends on the
home training. If it is d%iscounte-
nanced at the very start a good begin
ming is made. Two little toddlers will
often have their first quarrel over
some plaything that one of them does
not want to give up to the other. One
will hold on tightly, while the other
pleads, scolds or ven uses little fists!
Whoever loses then shrieks and yells.
But even such tots can be taught
fair play. you have had it for
awhile, now let brother, or sister,
have a turn" said firmly whenever
there is such a dispute, will soon be
respected as a rule, if constantly adj
hered to.
Sharing is another appeal that can
not be underestimated for unselfish
happiness all through life. Children,
once they see the advantages of it,
will make many amicable little ar
rangements themselves over personal
belongings that avoid nerve-frazzling
arguments and domestic storms. Shar-
ing, indeed, is the most constructive
remedy for children's quarrels. IF
you let Johnny have half your candy
he will let you take turns riding his
coaster" can be a very peaceable
settlement to a situation that might
annoy not only a mother, but even
the neighbors.
A certain helpful encouraging at
mosphere in a home also avoids quar-
rels. If every child is encouraged to
rejoice in each members success and
to sympathize with defeats, the sings
and slurs from petty ~jealousies that
oro oIn,acf &c nnn6IJrah1 &c Uin1nnf
quarrels, are avoided.
Equally %lubricating for a friction
less home is sympathy, so "inexpen-
sive" and yet so soothing to everyone.
The writer well remembers her first
day at school when something she did
or said made the whole school laugh.
Relating it almost in tears to the
family at the noon meal, a younger
sister Immediately spoke up comfort
ingly: eff they laugh at "oo," laugh
at 'um!'" Surely practical sympathy
for juvenile constituencies!
Children ideed need to be taught
not to laugh at each others misfor-
tunes, but instead to help. The
Golden Rule, here, is the preventive
for many hard feelings and a quar-
relsome atmosphere.
When children "a share their
food, their treats and amusements and
clothes if necessary, they have very
successfully assimilated the Golden
Rule. If parents and relatives would
always take particular pains to be i'm
partial, also, this would prevent quar-
rels, for all children seem ready to
accept Gin turn" With children JUS
tice is the essential of peaceful work
and play.
more than anything else, men and
women need the capacity to see with
clear eye and to contemplate with
open, unprejudiced mind the issues of
these times. Only through a properly
motivated and generously inspired
process of education can this be ac-
complished." President Harding.
This process of education should
begin early in life. If there is no
kindergarten in your community,
write the National Kindergarten As
ISOLATION, 8 West 40th street, New
York, and ask what you can do
about it.
LETTER FROM ST. PETERSBURG