Milford chronicle., 1933-04-07
WHY DOES MY CHILD GIGGLE!
Mary Andrews

I
warm beach, studying the merr,
children building castles of sand.
She remarked idly to her neares
companion, a stranger. Don't yOl
love children? do; that is the rea
son | have taught for thirteeI
years"
The stranger sat up at once. Tel
me how you would cure a twelve
year-Old girl who constantly giggles
We have tried everything with Oul
daughter. Jean. We speak to hel
about il every day. Sometimes
grow so anxious | fear | scold, but
Jean only giggles the more"
my dear, giggling in 12-year-old
girls is not an uncommon habit,
encouraged Aunt Mary.
will this silly giggling last? II
embarrasses me, for fear people will
say and think she is not intelligent
confessed the distressed mother.
Have you ever tried TO find out
the reason your daughter giggles?'
was Aunt MaTy's common sense
question.
7 Can you suggest some possible
reasons?" the mother inquired Gag
erly. you've had years of expe-
rience with children"
81 don't believe | could help you
much until | saw Jean, became ac-
quainted with her and studied her
carefully" was the reply.
This brought an invitation to visit
Jeans home. Aunt Mary accepted
and took the case in hand.
When Jean was introduced to
Aunt Mary she giggled. II was plain
the child was embarrassed and very
She was unusually
tall for her age. She lacked control
of her muscles and nerves. She
didn't know what to do with her big
hands. lanky legs and long slender
feet. and she was still suffering
from growing pains. She dropped
from nervous exhaustion caused by
too much outside school work and
intensified by the speed noises and
excitement of the amusement park,
which was near their summer home.
Jeans anxious mother questioned,
What do you think?"
Plainly a case of strained nerves,
said Aunt Mary.
"Yes. knew she was nervous.
but the giggle. what about it?"
STRAINED nerves taking refuge in
giggling."
What shall | dO?"
Your problem is to help her to
gain poise and self-contidence."
How shall go about it? Please
tell me-"
First. stop her music lessons and
work; let her rest ment-
ally Second, speak gently. slowly,
and encouragingly to her
at all times: never scOld her. Third. !
do not speak of her giggling. In her
state, the more attention is |
called to her weakness the more she |
will giggle. Many peculiarities die |
If they are ignored. Then interest |
your daughter in people and things. |
SO that she may forget herself. |
What particular interest has she?"
"She has a hobby of collecting |
buttons She has many. and each |
has a story attached to il. She has |
Dne button which fell from my we'd
ding dress as | left the church and
another from the coat of her broth
er's uniform which he wore to |
France in the World War"
Aunt Mary then suggested that
lean be encouraged to collect more
buttons and to write very short sto-
lies about each and that her mother
arrange to have different people visit
Jean to see her button collection.
This was done. and. of course, Jean
vas SO interested in her hobby that
the forgot herself She soon an
;wered naturally. BY the time the
summer was over she had gained
confidence and pOise and the trou-
,lesome. nervous giggle was seldom
leard.