Evening star., 1938-02-24
Establishing
OF Routine
Habits
Give Child a Book
To List Duties
To Be Done.
Nv ANGELO PATRI,

ny nANo1ATO = ~ ASAs
"MARTY, did you open your bed
" and air your room this morn
ing?"
%. I forgot"
Susan. I don't find your COM
position. Did you hand 1t In this
morning?"
%, Miss Grace, I left it home on
my desk. I'm so sorry. I'll bring 1t
in this noon."
Henry. did you 60 to the hardware
store for those nails for your father"
20, goodness. never thought Of It,
I'd better go right now. Gee, and I
passed the door on the way home
from school. too. Now have to go
all the way back. Wish you had re-
minded me at noon"
Forgetting costs lot Of time and
makes a lot Of trouble. It Is . bad
habit to form because 1t has a way
Of forming itself into reasons for not
doing things one must do. Il forgot"
soon gets to be q defense against any
accusation of neglect. No child can
afford to cultivate the open road to
failure that Il forgot so surely proves
to be.
As soon as children are old enough
to have responsibilities, like lessons
that come on certain days, errands
that are to be done at odd times.
chores that are out Of the usual
routine, but which must be done, a
note book or q card chart will help
to remind him. These notes should
be written on the card, or in the note
book. under the date on which they
are to be done. The child learns to
consult his book or his card and
check of each note as 1t is fulfilled,
That habit Is priceless. 1t helps one
to keep engagements on time, to save
time and energy, to live smoothly and
to gain a reputation for dependability
that is worth all the trouble 1t costs.
Others establish routine habits by
close supervision and the aid Of the
clock. 1t Is not usual for children to
forget habits that have been set from
infancy, in this way. Saying, Il for
got to wash my teeth" can usually be
interpreted accurately as. Il wanted
to forget to wash my teeth"
It is when the children are going
to school and taking on extra activi-
ties associated with home and school
that the checking card or note book
is needed. Mothers should help these
children to establish this habit, but
allow the children to do their own
checking. The habit must be self
checking or it does not function.
In the beginning the card may be
best. 1t is tackled in some place easily
and surely seen by the child. There is
pencil attached by string hanging
close by it, and the child enters his
duties and checks them of himself
It will be necessary at the beginning
for mother to say, Better set that
down so YOU will not forget it." But
she should not follow it up. That is
left for the child to do BY making
himself responsible for the doing and
checking of. he learns to use his card
and also to remember what it re-
corded
Mothers can help children to- re-
member by telling them at the right
time. The right time means when
the child's attention is centered on
what she is saying Never tell a child
to do anything while he is busy
thinking or doing something else.
Make the direction brief, clear. posi-
tive. Don't talk about it. Let the
child feel you have finished when you
have given him the direction so he
assumes full responsibility. Give only
one direction at a time.
(Copyrieht 1881