Evening star., 1935-04-27

TOGainSiZe
And Power
R e S en- is Littleness
Suggested in Talk
by Others.
BY ANGELO PATRI.

IT is not wise 10 teach child that
he is little. He knows it without
any emphasis from u.s. All day long
he stretches up and out in vain efforts
to reach adult delights that are always
beyond him. II We keep telling him
he is too little he will begin to accept
littleness as his lot and grow to that
scale. which is not what will make
him the happiest in years to come.
1t is a mistake to keep saying little
hands, little face. little shoes, little
chair Take the littleneSs as matter
of fact a most temporary fact. and
keep telling the child that he is grow
ing Instead of saying, Come wash
your little hands" direct him simply
to wash his hands He will do it just
as readily, or unreadily. and will not
register an idea of unfitness into the
bargain.
Children are eager to be big and
this is one way open to training them
to try to learn the ways Of bigger
children. You are big enough now to
have a higher chair. Soon you will
have one of the big chairs like the
ones the eighth graders have" That
gives the child feeling Of fitness. He
thinks ne is doing pretty well with this
matter of growing up. He pictures
himself sitting high among those dig
nitaries in the eighth and stretches
himself accordingly. 1t helps a child
a lot to stretch himself mentally and
physically.
that is plainly beyond him for the
present, such as going to the shop
and making a. motor boat. tell him
that pretty soon. 1t won't be long now
he will be big enough to reach the tool
rack. Then measure his legs and arms
and tell him how very long they are
for a boy Of his age. He will have
something to look forward to as his
body grows, and he will be satisfied
to wait for that time to come, espe-
cially If you find him something in
teresting to do, like making 4 nat boat.
a barge and loading 1t for the ride
down the river.
When we refuse to allow a child to
attempt what is beyond his power
simply saying. mo. You are too
little. You couldn't begin to do such
q thing. Don't be silly. You're only
an infant" we dampen a rising en-
thusiasm that is needed for the child's
growth. We must learn to keep the
child in his own class without doing
him any harm. If we take the imper-
sonai way we will succeed in doing
Just that.
Mother or teacher is not to blame
because legs are too short, or arms too
weak. Still. should either Of them
suggest that these members were not
up to the strength Of Samson'S. the
child's feelings would be hurt. Call on
the scales. Let's see. Maybe you
have been growing lot and never
noticed it. HIM, a. pounds. You are
growing. Let's see how tall you are
today. There's last months mark. Do
you know you have grown q whole
half-inch? The first thing you know
you will weigh enough to work in the
shop. Yes, sir, the very first thing you
know you'll be as big as John Henry"
He won't feel bad He will have hope
in his heart and something to look
forward to during the day. You may
have to do the same thing again to-
morrow because such children live an
hour. q day. at q time, but that is
very easy If 1t keeps him cheerful and
helps him keep busy within his ability.
He won't feel little.
(copyrisht. 1851