Evening star., 1936-10-26
Demanding
Obedience
Of Child
Give Little One Time
to Adjust Self to
Order.
BY ANGELO PATRI.

WHEN I tell you to DO DO something =, s
w I expect you to do 1t imme-
diately. Immediately, you understand?
No waiting"
"I don't like Immediately" walled
4-year-old Jamie. Il can't come so
fast. I have to take my breath"
Never mind taking your breath.
Suppose the house was af1re, and
called you to come and you took your
time about it? You'de be burned up"
mo, wouldn't. You'd yell. Fire!
and I'd jump like the fireman"
"Oh, I see. You mind Immediately
when you think it is necessary. Well,
young man. Just think it is necessary
to come to dinner when call you or
you'll be sorry"
am on the small child's side. He
ought not to be expected to answer
every call as he would a fire alarm.
If the conscientious mother, who is
trying so hard to teach child prompt,
willing obedience as a protection Tor
himself, would stop to consider the
matter she would cease to try for this
emergency response on every occa-
sion. Nobody goes to a fire three
times a day, much less does he have to
20 a dozen times day.
Many of the demands made upon
children for obedience could profitably
be omitted altogether. Many more
could we'll be casual requests politely
expressed as between friends. few
are important enough to warrant
prompt attention. Meal calls among
others. But even these are not to be
emergency sirens. They are to be
made only after the child's mind has
been prepared to receive them.
A human mind is force in mo-
ton. A child's mind engaged in
play is going full speed ahead. You
would apply your brakes gently as
possible we're you driving a car at
such speed, or you might be sorry you
didn't. For the very same reasons
you apply the showdown command
gently, slowly, preparing the speeding
machinery for the final stop. Only
In the gravest emergency would you
check power in full speed ahead.
In few minutes I'll call you for
dinner" Five minute call before
dinner" That allows the child to
slow down, prepare his mind and get
his body under control so as to move
easily and promptly in another direc-
ton. One activity must be checked, a
new one accepted, directed and ac-
complished. The child must have
time.
1t is a sign of good household man
agement to sound pre-dinner call.
That allows the children and the
older ones, too, the time that Is needed
for preparation. Then prompt at
tendance at the table is only natural
and reasonable. Beside that there Is
a calmer, happier atmosphere about
the whole proceeding that makes a
mealtime the pleasant hour 1t ought
to be.
Have no fear about the emergency
call being overlooked. As the little
boy suggested, you will yell "Fire!"
Your voice will carry the danger call
and instinctively he will respond to it.
Obedience should be intelligent, but
its intelligence must depend upon that
quality in the orders given.
Mr.. Patri has prepared a 1eaflet,
entitled Poor Readers" in which he
gives parents many suggestions on
how to help children to improve
their reading. Send for it, addressing
your request to Mr.. Angelo Patri,
child psychology department of The
Evening Star. Inclose self addressed,
stamped (3-cen) envelope.
(CopyrIght. 1861