Milford chronicle., 1938-03-18
PLAYED OUT-wITH GIVING IN
LAURA GRAY

Il can't understand my small son,
Teddy" complained Mrs. Bacon to
her neighbor. Mrs. Morton. Every
time he goes to play with Robert,
Teddy comes back so cross. so irri-
table. can do nothing with him.
And he used to be such a sweet
tempered youngster."
Roberts older than Teddy, isn't
he?" asked Mrs. Morton.
only a year and a half, but he
looks three years older; he's SO big
and sturdy. Roberts mother and
have been taking charge of the two
children on alternate days. This
gives each of us every other day
free"
what a clever arrangement. But
perhaps the boys see too much of
each other. How do they get on
when Robert comes to your house?'
''oh, they scrap a little; l don't
interfere. But this morning Teddy
made a great ado about going to play
with Robert, He didn't want to CO."
well, there are some people
much as love them-that ! wouldn't
want to spend every day with" mus
ed the neighbOr. 81 should say, in
this case, that the older boy is wear
ing out the little fellow. Having al
ways to give into subject ones own
wishes-becOmes monOtOnOus.
Il wonder if you are right"
Next day. when six-year-Old Robert
came to play with four-year-old Ted
dy, his mother, in the next room. was
alert to note what went on.
Let's play train!" suggested RO-
bert, sweeping things from a small
table and jerking it upside down.
mo. / want to cut out pictures!"
pOuted Teddy, already comfortably
seated in the midst Of litter.
"Oh, come on" Robert snatched
the scissors from the little fellow.
''YOu may be engineman!"
This magnificent condescension
stopped the imminent storm of pro-
test from Teddy. He jumped up and
helped arrange chairs be-
hind the table. Going to be engine
man! Going to be engineman!" he
kept repeating.
''YOu may be engine driver after;
I'm going to be first!" The bigger
boy seated himself on top of boxes
at the head of the procession and
mimieked escaping steam with vivid
reality.
Teddy reluctantly took the seat be-
hind. At last the steam gave out.
my turn nOwi" he cried.
mo let's play something else! This
is no fun" The steam" jumped
down and wrecked the train!
The boys went into the garden
Robert rushed to the shed. took out
Feidy.s new tricycle. and kept II the
rest of the morning. How the owner
longed to enjoy his new toy! He'd
had very little chance as yet--the
boys being almost always together.
And so the day went on. the older
boys wishes. always being carried |
out, and the younger never exper-
iencing that satisfaction with regard |
10 his own. No wonder poor Teddy !
was worn out with giving in!
You'll have to tidy up" triumph
antly, at the end of the day, Il al
ways do when you come to play with
mel" Robert beamed at the play |
room that looked as if cyclone had
passed through it.
Half a day or even whole day
ogether, once in a while, would have
)een a good experience for these boys
lut every day was too much. And we
jhOuld all remember. too, that while
IOme unsupervised play is beneficial
or young children. the periods
Ihould not be Overlong.
No child should be ''under-dOg" all
he time. This is apt to establish an
dea of inferiority. not easily eradi-
iated. Neither is it good for more
'igOrous child to have his own way
lways. He should be taugh. to be
air. and learn that there can be real
ileasure in giving in.