The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-03-13
WOMAN,S REALM |
.RARENTs--
 Your Children
BY Olive Roberta Barton

A mother wants to know what to do about a little boy who "near- ly goes wild" when he breaks any. thing, no matter how she tries to soothe and comfort him and tell him it's all right.
 He is three, and his sister is five. Sister is not as sensitive and regards any damage she has done with a calloused eye. will I tell the mother of these two children what to do about 1t? It seems that she has tried every thing" and has meet with no suc- cess.
 Ted, let us call the little three year -old, must be an unusual pat tern for child his age. It isn't often we hear of Q youngster be- ing over- r-burdened with conscience. There are two ways of looking at the problem, one by taking Ted as an individual, the other by talk ing him as half . unit, his older sister being the other half, I think the latter best.
 Reprimands Strike Wrong Mark
 No doubt Sally, and perhaps that IS her name, has had to be handled rather heroically for her fniSdemeanors. As she lacks senti- ment in regard to destruction, it is very likely her parents have tried to explain the seriousness of her acts. When she tears up books or throws water on the cat, sermons on values and feelings ensue. She probably has let the whole business in one ear and out the other. But there was Teddy, sensitive to every word, listening in. The punishment and talking directed at Sally may have missed its mark and found victim 1t was not intended for, the nervous and vulnerable boy, too young to reason but not too young to worry.
 If this is the case, and I am in- clined to think 1t is, the remedy is simple. To catechise Sally out of earehot.
 It would be difficult to say just what crisis brought about the baby's fright in the first place, for 1t is fright that promotes such spells, I am sure. Perhaps Sally herseld has been subtly at work. She may have said, for instance, when Teddy got mud on his coat, You'd better not let Mama see that or she will whip you" Or. Aren't you ashamed of yoursclfw
 Needs Special Handling
 This may not be the way of 1t exactly, but have known children to put mortal fear in sisters or brothers, when parents were mild and easy going Neighbors will ac- complish the same. You're going to catch it when you go home" says busy-body John, who likes to scare beb.es
 Ted may have a slight tendency to hysteria. which means that he is too easily upset by trafies. Tn such a csse he needs special and careful handling. First of all he should never be teased. Second he should have more sleep than aver age. If playing with other children excites him too much he should play alone a good part of the time.
 Too much sympathy will only make him worse. because children who crave 1t unduly will be quick to take spells of one kind or an- other in order to get 1t. Small &C., c'dents need not be discussed at all. If both reprimand and sympathy are reduced, and attention of any kind is not forthcoming, he may develop surprising indifference to putting on an act.
 As these two gro wolder much of the difficulty will iron itself out. It is probably 8 phase that will pass.
 Copyright, l936. NEA Service, Inc)