Evening star., 1939-03-31
Cooperation
Better Than
Criticism
AGracious Service
That Those With
Leisure Can Do
BY ANGELO PATRI.

"Now, I saw that. With my owr
eyes saw the Dawson child pick
up stick and hit little Jimmy right
on the head with it. And 1t isn't
the first time I've seen his rough
ness. Somebody ought to speak to
his mother about him. I must really
do something about 1t. It isn't right
to see q child doing wrong and not
make an effort to help him. don't
like to be busybody. but, really, he
is something terrible"
Never mind. You'd be surprised
If you were to learn that little Jim
mie could more than hold his own
with the Dawson child both as to
violence and q talent for provoking
1t. Children usually can be left to
settle their own difficulties with
benefit to themselves. The we'll
meaning elder, who takes on respon-
sibility for the behavior Of neigh
bors' children, gets nowhere but out.
There are no kind words for such.
and, indeed, they are entitled to
none.
If a child misbehaves, seriously,
on your own home ground, tell him
firmly what you think about it
That is your undoubted right and
privilege. But beware of watching
children and reporting their be-
havior to teachers or parents, for
the chances are you do not under
stand at all what is happening.
Besides all that, apart from the
trouble it causes and the ingrati-
tude that meets the effort, 1t is not
worthwhile. Children are not the
same from hour to hour, much less
from day to day. A mood that
drives one to astonishing behavior
at 2 o'clock in the afternoon today
may expend itself there and then
never to return. If one makes the
mistake of accenting 1t one is likely
to make the mood dwell past its
normal duration and do harm. Bet
ter hope and have faith in the ulti-
mate goodness of the children than
to take such chances.
Then, too, the mothers and
fathers, especially the mothers Of
children, know them as nobody else
can possibly know them. Don't
imagine that mother can live with
q child who has a violent temper
or an inclination to smash and
damage property, or tendency tc
provoke others to anger and hasty
action without knowing it. You
tell them no news when you report
their evil deeds. Maybe you could
help, however?
Mothers are busy people, always
under pressure. They have little
time to take the children for walks
to show them beauty spots about
the town, take them to the circus
and the ZOO, and the beach. They
have little time to entertain them
with stories and games In the after
moons. Maybe you have spare time?
I can think of no more reward
ing labor, no more gracious service
than to render service to mothers
of active children in this way. Il
one has tn. time and the abilit!
to make friends Of the children
and will make 1t q duty and privi-
lege to spend couple of hour.
with them daily, why not do so!
Surely it would be a finer thing tt
do than to watch nervously at tht
window while they lambast each
other.
Neighborhood leaders are needed
The children are there. The womel
with leisure are there. II the two
could get together what q relief tt
worried, overworked mothers o1
small children! Cooperation Is al.
ways better than criticism.
Mr.. Patri has prepared leafle,
entitled Trouble With Number
Tables" in which he explains ar
easy way to help children improve
in arithmetic. Send for it, address.
ing your request to Mr.. Angelo Patri
Child Psychology Department o1
this paper. 1nclose a self addressed
stamped (S-cent envelope.
(copyrisht. 1881