The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1934-03-12
Child Guidance
by
Frank Howard Richardson
M. D.. F. A. c. P.
Black Mountain, N. c., and
Brooklyn, N. Y.
SEEING THINGS AT FIRST

SEEING lHiNGS AL FIRST
Bedtime had become tragedy
at the Brown house. Argument,
reward, punishment, ignoring, had
all been tried in vain. Six-year-
old Harry eventually got to bed,
it is true; but by the time he
had been dragged there, scream
ing and crying, and had finally
dropped off, sobbing, to sleep half
an hour or so later, everyone in
the house was a wreck. What'was
to be done?
One day Uncle George arrived
for a visit, bringing with him a
! pocket flashlight, which greatly
interested Harry. A sudden inspi-
ration prompted mother to beg
this as a present for the boy, on
condition that it be used only at
bedtime. Nothing was said about
| rewarding Harry with it, or de-
priving him Of it if he didn't use
! it without crying at bedtime. For
once, his parents did no talking
they Just let things happen.
What did happen? Instead of
dreading bedtime, the little fellow
leased all that first afternoon to
be allowed to 90 to bed early, and
to go alone! When bedtime, push
ed forward a half hour to oblige
him, finally arrived, off marched
Harry by himself, penetrating the
Stygian darkness with his fasci-
mating pencil of light!
Fear of the dark? 1t has disap-
peared into thin air. What one
preacher called "the expulsive
power of a new affection" has
banished it. Long before the
charm wears off, custom will have
robbed the dark of, its terror.
Is Harry still "seeing things at
night?" Of course he is. But
they are pleasant sights that he
conjures up TO accompany his
flashlight adventures. They con-
duce to sleep, instead of banishing
| it.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
QUESTION:Dear DR.. Richard
son: took your advice about my
nervous daughter Jagged severn 3,
and had her weighed and measur-
ed. The doctor then compared
her weight with what the little
Children's Bureau table said it
ought to be for a girl of her age
and height; and she was six
pounds too light. Is that serious;
and if so, what shall l do about
it?
! ANSWER: Six pounds under
weight in a child of seven is Sc
rious enough to demand immedi-
ate and continued attention. Ask
4 your doctor to examine her thor
oughlv, and remedy any defects
that he finds. Ask the school
! teacher to see if she becomes ia
tigued before school is out: if she
does, ask the doctor to give YOU
an excuse so that she may leave
school before she becomes too an-
ed. See that she gets to bed eafly,
and has a full hours nap during
the day. The Doctors excuse will
take care of that. too, if it is nee
essary; but no child at that AGE
should be expected to stay to an
afternoon session, of course.
QUESTION: l want nv child 70
be brought up well, but certainly
| do not want her to be suppressed
| spank her, frequently, lightly as
a rule, but sometimes l have to
make it hard in order to impress
her not to handle books and maya
zines.
! ANSWER: l hope that vour
hard spankings do not succeed so
| well that your little girl learns not
to like books and magazines. Whv
not give her some books of her
own, and teach her how to nso
them, instead of creating either .
fear OF them or disagreeable as
sociation that may last far lofIger
thon you think for or wish?