The Washington times., 1933-09-18
Secrets OF
ieaIth
BY LOUIS e. BISCH. MD. Ph.D.

Is Rigid Parental Control Help
full or Injurious to the Young?
Let us assume that you are
the parent of a boy and q
girl. The former, we will say,
is 18 and the latter 16. Both
children are modern in their
behavior and tendencies and
insist upon freedom and q
good time.
Exactly what should your at
titude to such rebelliouS con-
duct be, and why?
From the point of view Of
the youngsters themselves we
must bear in mind that mot
to do as the others do" makes
them marked individuals; "back
numbers" so to speak, that
don't belong" And not be-
ing accepted, not being invited
to share the fun Of other
young people, is surely not only
a heart-breaking feeling but
one Of the surest ways by
which to develop devastating
convictions Of inferiority.
Antics of Youth
On the other hand, the av.
erage father or mother looks
upon the antics of youth with
definite and not unwarranted
misgivings. The sophistication
and cynicism Of these young
SterS, their boldness and disre-
gard for the conventions Of the
past, their "petting parties" gin
and cigarettes-s ma IL wonder
that we oldsters, even at this
late day of riotous youth, some
times rub our eyes and ask our
selves whether what we see can
actually be true.
Viewing this problem Of mod
ern youth from afar, so to
speak, in a detached way, is
something quite different from
having a son or daughter of
ones own. After all, these chill
dren are our flesh and blood;
we fear for them; our instincts
dictate that we must look after
them.
If no restraining hand Is
placed upon them they are al
most certain to suffer tragedy.
How much, however, should
preSent-day youth be repreSSed?
Psychology has long recog-
nized the injurious mental and
emotional effects that 60 with
too rigid control on the part Of
parents. Such children become
untruthful, crafty and deceitful.
What is more, if they really do
what they are told and hold
their eXuberance in check, they
become soft and timid and are
unable to develop within them
selves the stern stuff of charac-
ter so necessary for success in
the battle OF life.
Surveillance Bad
No, too much surveillance Is
bad for any boy or girl, no mat
ter what the age. If persisted
in it may even lead to a nervous
disorder.
Yet we surely cannot stand
idly by and allow them to run
wild.
The restraint that comes
through continued companion.
ship and mutual understanding
between a child and his parents
Is, in the last analysis, the best
that we may hope for.
For, deep down, every boy and
girl is eager for help and advice
despite his apparent independ-
ence. He realizes the value Of
his fathers and mothers expe'
rience, even if he considers them
a bit old-faShioned. Besides, no
boy or girl can be so decidedly
different in fundamental traits
from his parents-the laws Of
heredity see to that. This helps
nightly when one tries to
change them to ones own point
Of view.
Boys are, Of course. UNDER
stood better by their fathers
and girls by their motherA
Both parents should, however,
take a hand in moulding their
offspring.
A kindly, helpful, guiding
hand is what is needed rather
than the threats and punish.
ments that go with a mailed
fist.