New Britain herald., 1928-05-01
BH JULIA BIA\SHARD NIA service Writer

New York, May 1-How 10 treat your first, second or third child ol your only child so his character will develop properly is q most pnrplcX- Ing problem to parents in this day when SO much is blamed on "sup- pressed desires and "thWarted i'm pulses"
 Dr. Alfred Adler, eminent psychia - triSt. founder of tho behavior clinic in Nlonna's public schools, feels that all first born. all second born and so on have group characteristics which If understood, could be guided to happiness.
 'first-born children have the big gost chance at being famous or be- ing nouraSthonic," he contends. ''I!oing first born is the key position in q family of children. The sue cess or failure of first borns, unfor- tunatclN. depends tremendously on the attitude of the faimly towards the child. Too often the advent Of the second child averts attention from the first, and leaves him a thwartcd individual
 Threatened by Depression.
 In -thlldren, the Magazine for Parents" Dr. Adler says of the first child, "Unicss he can overcome in the struggle for supremacy in his universe, he is apt to become de- pressed. pecNish, more or less hope less and will show his hopclessness later in life if confronted by prob lcns. If he is strong enough he be- comes q fighting child.'
 parcnts could prevent this. tf they knew how and took the care 10, his pSychidtrlst insists. First of all they should prepare Inc first born for the coming of the second.
 No child is too young 10 be told Of an expected brother or sister," he Says. ''Tell him what an influence for good he may be and how helpful. Then when the younger child arrives and occupies the whole houSeholJ's E attention, sec that the older one is kept busily employed either al a nursery school or at home. n that way the shift from parental atten- ton from himself 10 the neWcom- CT will not appear d catastrophe to him.
 Competitive Difficulties.
 The second child has his troubles also. according to Dr. Adler. For he is apt 10 find a pacemakcr in his older brother. Always confronted with the older child, he sees work and play in the light of a compcti- tive race. He is naturally d rebel against recognized power and is likely to be revolutionary. But, if with the older child in work and play, he either seeks short cuts to success or loses hope.
 Much can be done for the second child,' says Dr. Adler. Avoid com Darisons within the family. Set each tasks suitable to his age and ability and dcfrain from chiding one be- cause he does not read, run, mind or play like the others.
 Girls Develop Rapidly.
 "lf the older child is a boy and the younger q girl, the boy is in a. difficult situation. Because nature supports the girl mentally and bod fly until her seventeenth year. She develops more quickly, placing the boy at a dikadNantagr'
 The third child is likely 10 become lazy and an "Xcuse-maknr, the doc tor warns uE. He comes into a world Of rivalry like the second child. But in the average family he has no sue cessor. Therefore. when capable, he often oVercomns the older children by his sense Of importance. If this fails, ho may get out of things by hiding behind the fact of being spoiled and end mp lazy, escaping from tasks, wasting time and mak- ing excuses throughout his whole life.
 Ia,orS Adoption.
 But neither the first, second or third child Of q family ha., any edge on the only child for difficulties, ac- cordins 10 this psychiatrist. His one remedy for the only child's problems IS 10 adopt a playmate or send him