Milford chronicle., 1930-12-19
HOME EDUCATION
Answer Children's Questions
Elsie T. Kartack

Elsie F. Kartack
v The old-fashioned saying, "Chil-
dfen should be seen and not heard
should have passed forever from our
present day experiences for q greater
understanding of what best promotes
a. childs growth has displaced the
meager insight of former days. A
recent experience proved the mus
tfce of trying to hold to that worn
ont maxim. . s=sa.e.. .
We were having a delfglitfuf~ ride
in the country. At my suggestion,
we had turned from the much trav-
( eled highway to a road seldom: 1tsed.
was enjoying the wealth Of beauty
all about me. Ten-year-old Elizabeth
was bubbling over with enthusiasm
: about all the new things she sslEas
seeing and her questions came fast.
What were those flowers? Could she
pick some? What was 4 silo? What
was it used for? Why? Did baby
ducks come out of eggs like chick
ems? Why did the creek run only
one way? Could COWS swim? Was
that why they went into the water?
There seemed to be no end to her
questions. Her mother became
quite impatient and answered cher
NuuesfiOns. Her mother became quite
impatient and answered her shortly
and indifferently. She was intent
upon telling me about her new
clothes, about a bridge lunclleoTib Chat
she had just given and about Grace
Browns trouble with her husband.
LAS continuous as the stream of ques-
tions from the child was the moth
er's light chatter. l tried to answer
some of the childs questions while
attending politely to my hostess. FL
nally, however, i'll evaporation Eliz-
abetli's mother said, you must keep
still. want to talk to Miss King
and you disturb me-" ~
For a few moments there was si-
lence and then the questions and
comments began again until her
mother said, elizabeth, if you will
Keep still for half an hour l will give
you fifty cents"
>;To me she said, "That will hold
her / think. The silly child has
heen trying to save enough to buy
her father a birthday present and
my offer will be an inducement.'
'tAnd indeed the promise Of the fifty
cents did seem to produce the de-
sired effect. Several times her face
lighted up and she almost spoke
only to,remember in time. Twenty
ffVe minutes passed when suddenly,
with her little face all aglOw, she
hurst out, ooh Mother, what is that
beautiful red bird?"
The mother without turning her
head in the direction of the bird, ex-
claimed, There, you have lost your
fifty cents! You can't keep still for |
even half an hour!"
Elizabeth's face fell and her eyes /
filled with tears.
r"Oh, I'm sorry. Now I can't buy l.
paddys birthday present, but |, did .
Want to know what that bird was
N "That," l answered, was a scarlet |
tanager. have one in my garden. /
III Mother will let you come over af- /
Ter school tomorrow, perhaps we can |
See it and l will tell you about it." ]
d And at that moment decided5that
flwas much in nneed of a little8eRrand
Girl for several nights so that Eliza
beth might earn the fifty cents for
her fathers birthday in a reasonable =,
Way. ;ro
" A child's education depends very
iiluch upon his awareness Of things
about him, so his questions regard
fiig things that lie sees, hears. sneils,
tastes and feels should be en9ouF-
aged and he should be given Aa3car-
iiect and careful replies as it is pos
Bible to give. -f.