Milford chronicle., 1939-09-29
HOME EDUCATION
LITTLE THINGS
IhInia Mallory

Lucia mallory
When | think of the steady stream
of children passing my desk here in
the library day by day. 1t does not
seem strange that / though I have
never been a mother, should often
be consulted by my friends about the
behavior problems Of their children.
Yet it took special thought and OBJ
servation to find an answer to Gladys
Curran's request for help in curing
her two-and-a-half-year-old Shirley
of being a runaway
DO come over soon. Lucia"
Gladys entreated. land see If you can
tell me why Shirley keeps running
away all the time. We've done every
thing we can think of to make home
attractive to her. We've turned the
glassed-in side porch into a big sun
ny playroom-"
Perhaps you have given Shirley
too many toys" | suggested.
Gladys shook her head. We've
tried not to do that, Lucia. She just
has her big doll and her buggy and
a few other substantial toys"
"I'll come as soon as | can and do
my best to help you" promised. see
ing look of genuine distress on my
friends face.
The days work at the library was
finished before | found time to give
the problem of the little runaway
much thought. l was having dinner
that evening with my friend. Nancy
Harter, once a successful first grade
teacher. now an equally successful
mother
Come early" Nancy had urged,
so you can see the baby before she
goes to bed"
I hurried along the street. antici-
pating a pleasant half hour with
Baby Joan-a lovely unspOiled child.
though she is the only girl in a fam
lily boasting several sturdy boys.
Her smiling little face was watch
ing for me from the front window.
For a moment l wondered how she
could be tall enough to reach that
window. When went in | saw that
she was standing on a little box her
mother had placed for her.
Joan likes to watch for her daddy
and the boys" Nancy explained. so
fixed little step for her. After her
nap she plays here until time for
them to come home"
From her box In the corner. Joan
picked up a small knitted doll and
carried it to me in motherly fash
ion.
That's Baby Bets" Nancy told me
Joan like Bets better than any of
her other dolls. Mother gave her a
lovely big doll for her birthday. but
she doesn't care much about it yet !
She'll enjoy a big doll when she's a
little bigger herself"
Joan put her dolly into buggy.
1t was Just the right height for the
little mother to push around the T.
room. l noticed then that all of her
toys were small enough to be manip- /.
ulated easily by her baby hands I
Could that be a clue to Gladys trou-
BILE? Were Shirley's toys too big for /
her?
II didn't take me long to find out |
went over to Gladys house the !
very next day.
Please let me see Shirleys play /
ROOM" I began without ceremony. !
All AA6nt' Ii NdiAOts J.
answered. smiling jokingly at me. Il .
hope you have diagnosed her case!"
Il think l have" l answered, as
we stepped into the pleasant sun
room and l saw big doll in a buggy
that was built for a ix-year-old.
Aren't Shirley's toys too big for her.
iladys?"
The mother looked around her in
the playthlngs and
hen at Shirley. Why. Lucia. be-
ieve you're right'-In getting dur
able toys we haven't noticed that they
we're too big! No wonder Shirley
likes to play at the neighbors -
There is no big doll anywhere she
goes. remember-Yes. I'm sure of
hat All the toys are rather small
I'll get Shirley some suitable things
o play with this very day! What a
Door mother / have been!"
Indeed you have not" l contra
licted. only the best of mothers
would seek the reason for her child's
behavior; too often all
II the blame is placed on the small
'ffender l wish more mothers were
ike you!"