Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-09-06
Excess Talk
Confusing
Child
BE Brief in Orders;
Avoid Very Long
Explanations
By ANGELO PATRI.

40 q dCdl SDoU III CNClN
child's mind. Whenever the mind
wearies. that deaf spot is turned
out to ward off any more attacks
1t will stay in force until the mind
is rested and ready for work again.
Mothers and teachers often have
this deaf spot turned toward them,
and if they are wise they will, first,
avoid its entrance into the days
scheme, and next. when it does
appear, wait without irritation for
its going.
That deaf spot is natures de-
Tense against overwearying a child.
Little children have only begun to
understand language. Many of the
words they hear and obey are still
without form to them. If too many
words are let loose upon their ears,
the hearing part of their minds
wearies, closes down, and the deaf
ear is turned outward
This is why explanations as to
why mother does not allow baby
to pull Pussy's tail, why mother
says not to play with matches, why
sister must not bite brother, are
as ashes on the wind. Save your
strength. The sharp, Don't do
that" registers. Let it stand alone.
undrowned by explanations that
bring on deafness. Don't explain.
Check the wrong deed and i'm
mediately change the scene of
action, redirect the attention. fill the
mind with another idea. One idea
displaces another rapidly in the
minds of little children. Use that
fact in such predicaments. But
don't pour out words.
Teachers of young children, and
older ones, too, must remember
that listening is one of the most
fatiguing of human experiences.
Listening children are soon tired.
especially when the same voice
does the talking. Their ears close,
and inattention sets in to relieve
the strain on the brain and nerves.
Disorder results. The moment
teacher sees the blank expression
stealing over the faces of the chill
dren she should know that time
is up. Change the order. Let the
children 60 into action. Further
talk is waste
Mothers of little children often
say, Il told him not to. I ex-
planned it all to him. The next
thing I knew he was right back
again" Too much talking brings
on darkness of mind. It is not
that the child sets out to disobey.
He is too tired to hold to an idea
that demands controlled attention.
His mind closes down and he
takes the old easy way. Children
obey best when their minds are
freshly rested. That is the time
to plant the new notion. Say as
little as possible to a tired child
and wait for the right time to set
the new idea. There is always time
for that.
Talking too much about a wrong
action is likely to bring it into the
child's mind and keep it there until
his body forces action upon the Idea.
Don't steal the JAM" repeated,
with variations. and loud accents
is more likely to send the child to
the jam closet than not. Be brief
with your prohibitions Be chary
with explanations to little children.
Wait for the time the child's
mind is rested and he can hear
and think clearly. Then tell him
what you want him to hear. Don't
use many words. Don't try to
brighten him. You want him to
think clearly. State the case briefly
pleasantly, gently. And let it rest
there. In many words there is
much confusion of minds.
Is meal-t time a troublesome af-
fair in your family? Be guided
by Angelo Patri's advice, in his
booklet, Eating" Send for 1t,
inclosing 10 cents in coin. Ad-
dress Angelo Patri, in care Of
The Evening Star.