The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-03-08

ples by both teachers, and parents. Soon after. however the teacher loses her temper at some infraction of rules or the slowness of some pupil. A parent loses his temper over some mistake of n clerk in a store, and gets immediate correc- ton of the same by making fuss about 1t. In other words the child Is frequently told one thing only to see again and again how much better results are obtained at times by his elders by doing just the op- posite.
 A baby starts out in this world utterly dependent on those around him particularly the mother. He finds after a time that by crying. attention is immediately centered on him, that if hungry this is the way to get his bottle. As he grows, certain habits are formed either good or bad. and once formed are very resistant to change.
 Naturally at this time he Is en. tirely selfish thinking only of how he can be most comfortable and happy, and not at all of those about him. During the stnges of growth and development he finds, however, that certain changes are occurring and demands made upon him. He Is made to drink from cup rather than bottle, to eat solids from spoon rather than drink all his food. He naturally responds to these changes with more or less protest, and after a time accepts them only if he finds 1t more com fortable to do so. This matter of readjustment continues throughout infancy and childhood. A child will which gives him the most pleasure and satisfaction. If he finds that breath holding, crying. or making 2 scene Is more profitable than obeying orders, or waiting for un- fulfilled promises of reward, he will so regulate his conduct.
 Also in school life if he has been brought up to rely on his. parents for all decisions, and has been al- lowed no independence. 1t becomes very difficult for him to adjust himself to group play. He there- fore goes home to mother after school rather than play with the others, and takes all his troubles with teachers and playmates to her for solution.
 If she continues to fight all his battles for him, and make his de- cisions, we can realize how unpre- pared he will be when finally turn ed loose in the world to make his own way. Many failures and misfits In later life owe most of their trou- bles to an over solicitOus parent The habit of making decisions for themselves cannot be encouraged too soon in children. At first of course they should be allowed to make decisions only in small unim- portant things where mistakes will not matter very much, and later gradually placing more and more responsibility on them. It is per- haps easier to say do thus and so when asked about a definite pro- cedure. The child's opinion on the matter should. however, be asked. and if he makes the wrong deci- sion, his mistake may be explained.
 Lastly I should like to give warn ing about the difficult age of pub erty when either so much harm can be done by lack of patience. or so much good may be accom- piished by judicious handling of the child.
 This is probably the most trying age of development and needs the most sympathetic understanding. The child is floundering among many new conflicting emotions and Ideas at this time. and although he may seem stupid. or fncorrigabie,