The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-03-08
Dr. J. HI. Root Discusses Home
 Environment
Parents Often to Blame for Annoying Habits and Re- sistance to Discipline Developed By Young Boys and Girls-Points to Constructive Program

AOWiAB drtiCte pTcpuFeu exctastNSit for The Democrat by Dr J. H. Root, baby specialist.
 s'Bchavior Problems in Chlldhood''
 More often than not. we as par ents are to blame for the annoying habits, and resistance to discipline developed by. our children. The pedfatrician of today is continually child who does not eat properly, is a restless sleeper, nervous, excit- able, and will not mind. One usual- ly finds no physical defect ex- cept mal- l-nutrition in this type, but must look to the child's habits, training. and in fact whole environ ment for the difficulty. Medicine here will not effect cure. Only . change In attitude of the parents, as we'll as others in the home, who may influence the child's life. will solve the problem.
 They must learn to get the child's point of view, to put them selves In his or her place, and so try and find out his or her reasons for doing certain things under cer- tain circumstances Then and then only will they be able to regulate their own conduct, so as to infiu- ence the child in the proper man. ner, and eventually arrive at the proper means of discipline and sug- gestion to establish the sought for routine and habits.
 For example how many parents are really sincere and truthful with their children? A child begins to cry when being examined by the physician. The mother begins to promise candy, ice cream or a toy lt he will stop crying and be q good
 eAy. The promises then become more elaborate. We will go to see" someone the child is particularly fond of. or "here comes daddy" or grandma" who are really per- haps miles away. and "you must not let them find you crying" If these promises do not work, and they usually do not. because often the child realizes the promise will not be kept. or that he will get the fee cream anyway. then threats are in order. you will get a spanking when daddy hears about this." or "mother will leave you here with the doctor if you don't stop" These threats are useless also for the BH1le TcsiSoIlbs intH tHeTt atG tnt threats in the home and elsewhere. eff you do that again shall spank you" and after the child has re- peated the offense once or twice. "You father will spank you when he comes home," and then after things go on this way for while the mother may completely lose her temper and spank the child.
 Put yourself in the child's place. He knows that nine times out of ten he will not get the spanking, or other punishment threatened. and rather enjoys the excitement created by seeing how far he can so. Often being able to judge just how much he can really get away with without disasterous results.
 Contrast with this sort of thing. the child who comes into the office with the promise of some definite reward if he is good. He knows from former experience that he will be rewarded If he is good and that he will not be, If he isn't. He can usually be trusted to behave prop eriy. The same thing applies to spanking. He has the type of par ent who considers we'll and prom lses and threats made, and is pre- pared to fulfill them to the letter and without argument. As a result the child knows on just what to depend, and comes to regulate his conduct accordingly.
 Frequently we find the parent who tells her child 1t will not hurt when he is brought to the office to have a boil incised or some other procedure of that type. After having been deceived this way once or twice. he naturally will not be- lieve his parent in the future. A child cannot distinguish between the so-called white lie" and a real lie. For example person answer ing the door bell may have been instructed to say that Mrs So and So Is not in. The child hears this and knows perfectly we'll that his mother is in. The explanation to the child would be difficult. A parent may refuse in the presence of her child an invitation which she does not wish to accept. plead ing a previous engagement. When the time comes, the child finds that she did not have any other engage ment. Such thingE. trivial as they may seem, often cause the child to question the verasity of it's parent. If such things must occur. they should not take place in his pres- ence.
 The child is continually urged not to lose his temper and the pa- tienee and virtues of various great men are held before him as exam