The Washington times., 1928-02-03
I'd Character Not Cash, Adoms Old Age-Fay King
Expert on Child
Psychology
Advises
BY q. Larnar Matthews


BOUT two years ago heard
= the father Of two boys say:
I believe Jack Is going to be q
doctor; but ! don't think Joe will
take to education"
wondered how he knew; for
at that time Joe was only six
years old. he was an active, en-
ergetic, thoughtless youngster
who said frankly that he hated
school: but that did not fix his
ontire future.
Since that time I have heard
various members of that family
make similar remarks. Joe will
never take to education, is the
theme Of their comment. Re-
Gently Joe,s aunt said:
Il don't think Joe win take to
education He will probably turn
out To be-
And thereupon stopped her.
He certainly win NOT take to
education e the whole family con-
tinues 70 say SO in HIS presence.
For two years I have been hear
Ing about Jacks bright future and
Joe's hopeless outlook. The boys
themselves have heard those state
ments until they believe them.
The family expects good reports
of Jack and he brings them home.
The family expects nothing OF Joe
and he doesn't disappoint them.
What makes yeu think that Joe
Will never take to education? 2"
Then the aunt laughed, Well,
Tor no reason at all, she ans
swered. except that 1 have heard
that fact stated so often /
thought, Of course, it must be so. |"
And for the same reason Joe
thinks 1t must be so. Few pa
rents realize the force and power
of oft-repeated statements.
Sometimes when your little
Sarah Is NOT very well and is ir-
ritable and cross. you begin say
Ing
Sarah IS so spiteful and quarrel
some. nobody can love her"
That remark Is intended as q
correction OF Sarall's fault; but
more often than otherwise it
only makes her more disagreeable.
Another, member Of the house.
hold takes up the refrain and every
now and then somebody tells Sarah
that she Is spiteful and quarrel
some. And before long the traits
Of spitefuIness and .1sIarreIsome-
ness take root in the Guide nature.
can't believe anything You
tell me, y says Williams father;
you're such i liar.
Now, William, tell me the
truth. says his mother. you are
not i truthful boy. and IL you
keep on telling stories nobody win
even believe you. .
If William hears that statement
often enough he will accept it as a
hard and fixed condition.
III your child mas particular
fault or weakness. you raturaIly
fry to correct the shortening; but
you are most unwise to owen upon
A funny little woman + knsw
said she found herself almost de-
spising her husband; so she began
saying over and over, day after
DAY.
II love John. love John. !
love John. Z
The words took such hold upon
her mind that she became really
fond OF her sorry husband again
30 she says.
Repetition has peculiar effect
upon the mind.
1t Is this matter of repetition
that makes advertising the power
that it Is.
lit Id repetition OF the same
thought in songs, in speeches, in
plays that plants patriotism In the
heart Of q child.
1T IS doing the same thing over
and over again that creates habit.
Saying the same thing over and
over creates sort OF thought
habit.
Then let the wise father and
mother repeat pleasant, construct
I've, encouraging statements; and
leave lnsaid words that will anger,
discourage or depress children.
This Is an easy way TO start
yoHrschildreD on the track that you
want them to follow.