Evening star., 1936-07-16
Teach Child
Caution Is
A Necessity
Restrict Handling of
Strange Animals
and Machines.
BY ANGELO PATRI.

THERE is time to touch and
time to keep hands off. Little
children must be trained when to
touch and when to refrain. They
have to touch things to learn about
them, but the things they should
touch are the common ordinary
things of daily use and it is possible
for us to teach them to do this in
sensible effective fashion. There are
some things that children must not
touch and they are to be trained ac-
cordingly.
would teach child that he must
never touch strange dog. Not that
he is to fear him, the dog will mind
his business if the child will go right
along minding his. But the dog on
the street is not thinking of strange
little boys and girls. but of the smells
along the way. He is deeply intent
upon them, his whole doggy mind
set on them All of sudden, so 1t
seems to him, a strange hand is laid
on him. Instinctively he jumps, and,
if he is not a Well-trained dog, bites.
Teach a child never to touch strange
dog. but take care in doing so not TO
frighten the child about the dog. Ex-
plain but don't frighten.
Then include all strange animals.
When visiting the zoo the child is not
to stroke the noses of friendly
animals. He is to keep his hands off
always. There is no telling what an
animal will do. He may be gentle
for years and turn on a child in an
instant. If the child does not touch
him he will not be hurt.
People are not to be touched. Some
children want to stroke the dress OF
any and all who pass them on the
streets. They won't do. The people
stroked do not like it, and it is just
as we'll that children keep their hands
off peoples clothes. It is ill-mannered
to paw people, is enough to say about
that mistake.
Then the machines that are so
plentiful about us today are dangerous
to little children It is easy to climb
into car and turn a key or pull
lever, but serious accident may fol-
low. The electric sewing machine,
washer, oil burner. are not to be
touched by children, who have no
understanding of the powers they are
releasing. Teach them to keep their
hands off machines they do not
understand and try to keep them from
temptation. Keep guards on the ma
chimes where there are little children
and keep the keys out of their reach.
1t is unwise to frighten children
about these things. What we want
to do Is to teach them care and
caution. not fear. We can do this
by maintaining an attitude OF as
surance in the face of the children
by explaining how these things work.
what they do, and why it is dangerous
for them to handle them until they
are bigger and stronger.
As soon as you feel that a child is
able to understand, able to manage
any one of the household machines,
begin teaching him, still keeping him
under restrictions, but steadily train
ing him in their care and use. Our
children must live with machines and
they must know how to handle them.
They will learn sooner and easier than
we did because the things are familiar
to them and they were mysterious to
us. They are still magic in our minds,
but to the children just machines.
Go slowly and teach them gradually,
without fear. when to touch and when
to keep hands of.
tCopyright. 1861