Milford chronicle., 1940-10-11
HOME EDUCATION
"Ths Chiid'5 FiTgf School Is tie
Family"-FRoEBEL
Issued by the National Kiuderearten
Association. 8 West l0th stregg,
New York City
zee
RESPONSIBILITY CAN BE
TAUGHT
EL0RENoE WIoHTnIAN RoWLANp

HAOAkNCE WAGHTMAN ROWLAND
HE won't do a thing to help me,
one mother complained to me, dur
ing friendly chat. Il think he want,
to help, but he Is always too busy
with other things. II he does start I
job, he usually leaves it long before
It is completed"
dor
The woman thought a moment
Let's see. He's twelve. l started
asking him to help me around the
house last summer"
That's the trouble" / replied.
"Ycu started ten years too late"
/ meant it. Children of twelve do
not automatically feel the urge to
help with the work. Very young
children do, and the urge should be
strengthened by means OF satisfying
experiences. The young ehild's tasks
should be regular, interesting and
never WearisOme. started with my
Roger when he was less than two
years Of age. First. he helped me
pick up his toys. We had a particu-
lar place for each one. He soon
learned these places and enjoyed be-
coming responsible for putting away
slowly increasing number of his
playthings. Like all very little chill
dren, he was then much interested
In bis shoes, so the privilege of put
ting them ito bed" was fascinating.
II meant putting them away in the
shoe bag, which was tackled low
enough on the door to be easily
reached. l believe shelling peas and
helping to set the table came next.
It was great fun for the child and
much companionship for me.
When he was old enough to un-
derstand. listed the tasks, which
he was to undertake by himself, on
a chart, and this he enjoyed mark
ing. The list included such things
as brushing his teeth and washing
his face and hands. as well as the |
household duties which he was per-
forming regularly at that time.
II task was neglected, the blank !
space was proof enough of the ne
glect. Since repeated lapses may
cause an inferiority complex, often
mentioned some of the scheduled
events to the child. This was while
he was still i've or six. By the time
he was eight, this was not neces-
sary. and responsibility like get
ing dressed on time was never a
problem. The rubbish was emptied,
papers picked up in the yard, walks
swept, and anything else had asked
lim to do was done regularly.
q nSrufos,a eoIHl~-raI ~ al
ny children, to sing as they work
ID. Silly little verses, some of them
we're, made up to suit ourselves, but
whatever the words, they were sung
With appreciation and make work
nore enjoyable.
My eldest daughter. Madge, is now
welve. She irons her own middies
or school, washes the dishes for
ne meal and does a creditable Job
lakeS cookies and simple cakes,
cts the table very nicely, helps with
he daily cooking and runs the vac
um, dusts. pOlishes her own shoes,
uts buttons on her clothes, keeps
er room neat and manages to get
me to play. attend school, read,
nbrOider and sew for herself and
er doll family. She is a very active,
lsy and happy child. (
II you think she is over-prOfcient. )
0u should see her two younger sis
RS They are fast following in her 9
otsteps and, at times, surpass her q
;complishments. All four of the .
lildren are confident with regard to 3
cir work. trustworthy when doing 7
without supervision, are able to U
'mplete many jobs a day success
lly and are self-reliant. Their abil- ol
? has been built up by years of OF
tisfied effort. 81