The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-01-29
gPYOUR CHILDREN
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"What shall | do about my little girl not quite four? asks mother. ! "She fs at the age when you say it is hfeh time for her to have some pIayTnates.. but the only ones about her for her to associate with make hef crf. Day after dayyI try to fix matters up. but it is all to do oyer again. and I notice her disposition changing" t
 Which is right in line with our discussion of the little pre-school youngSter and ones,more problem to untangie today.
 When Mary or John has achiev-- ed the third birthday and entered | the magic world of self thinking and self establishment, 1t is right for l1ifn---Or her---t0 mix around with other people besides those in Che family, especially if the f9mi- l ly has no other children. Children need children to round them out. l No need to give up space to the why's and wherefores here.
 It happens very often that the only available children do not fill l the bill. Sometimes 1t is because they are undesirables. Sometimes | because they are too old. Again, they are too different in tempera- nnent and disposition from the child in question to be compatible. What Course Is Best?
 Is it better then to keep our Johnny or our Mary apart? Or 1 let the struggle go on and make | the best of 1t? The rule says to give them company so must we obey the letter and trust that things will come out all right? :. First, we had better look at l Mary herself. Is she a snanpy little piece of humanity accus- toned to bossing her way about! And is she so accustomed to cod ding that she takes offense at I the slightest opposition? In other words are we trusting to the street or neighborhood to do the train- ing we have neglected?
 This matter is important. We fond mothers have a habit Of do- ing just that. We even leave the miracle to the school and kinder garten. They can do much, but hot all. Like everything else, the
 more cooperation in this respect, the better.
 However, let's take it for granted that Mary is a bell-bal- anced, nice normal little girl who knows a bit about give-apd-take has had to bow her will just often \ enough to realize the world wasn't
 invented for her, and who is sport
 ing enough in her small way tc
 take a bump to her feelings, either
 emotional or muscular, without
 someone sobbing over her.
 Change May Be Needed
 Then if we have tried, as this
 mother has done, to fix matters
 up and 1t is of no use, 1t is time to make 8 change. By a little
 strategy is is usually possible te find other small playmates, oi even one who won't ruin a per fectly good disposition, cause
 daily unhappiness (so important at this age) and thwart, offend shame or coarsen our darling be- yOnd comfort or repair.
 Children of tender age do wei
 when let alone to work out theil l little troubles and learn their frs,
 new lessons in comeraderie, bu' there should be an alert if with
 drawn supervision, too. Mothers
 should be aware of what goes on
 one small tyke can be a daily
 martyr and well-nigh huined b!
 bullying or meanness. On th'
 other hand, he may be doing th'
 bullying. Sometimes older chil
 dren make the best of compan
 ions. Sometimes younger. It de
 bends on dispositions. Be fair bu
 be firm. Don't be nasty in judg
 ment. Don't interfere too much
 But when change is needed
 make 1t.
 (Copyright 1895, NEA Service Incl