Evening star., 1941-02-05
Don't 'tOverdO
Training Of
Children
HoldMiddle Course
For Successful
Development
BY 4 nqeIo Pnfri

A young mother. anxious that her
child should not be a spoiled,
pampered, selfish and demanding
youngster, set room apart for him
where he stayed the long day
through. He had toys to play with,
but no human companionship. If
he cried he must just get over it.
Nobody must 60 to him until meal
time, when he was taken out and
fed and then returned to his Jail.
Children reared like that would
not be healthy in mind or body.
Their intelligence would be stunted.
They would be backward. retarded
children because they had been de-
prived Of the experiences gained in
association with people, with chill
dren of their own age, with animals
and with things in general.
There is a great span of differ
ence between spelling child with
attention and running him for want
of it. There is safe course to be
found between these situations. A
little child needs to be by himself
to sleep and rest, especially during
the first 10 months of his life. AS
he begins to notice people and
things about him he is to be given
companionship to stimulate that in
terest and develop 1t. This is to
come gradually as the child can ac-
cept it.
When children are about years
of age, getting about on their feet.
talking to people intelligently, they
ought to be trained to play by them
selves for a brief time Fifteen
minutes is long enough for the be-
ginning. The child is placed on
rug in a room by himself in sight
Of his mother, but is left completely
to his own devices for the period.
Gradually the time for self-direc-
ton is heightened, the activities in
creased in number and difficulty
until, about the time the child is
nearing kindergarten age, he is able
to play by himself for two hours, or
with companions for half day.
This training in self-suf1iciency is
necessary for the development of
the child's mind, skills and mental
and physical adjustments. Some
part of his day should be spent with
his mother learning to do things
about the house. He learns to set
the table, wipe dishes and silver,
put some of them in their places.
He learns to dust and sweep, use
tiny carpet sweeper and broom, bake
cakes, prepare fruit and vegetables.
All the little jobs that children used
to do in country kitchens are edu-
cational occupations for children
today.
The children are trained in these
tasks not for the sake of the help
they might be, but for the develop
ment of the understanding-the
skills-of the child. kindergarten
tries to supply hand training in
classrooms, but better training can
be had at home in the well-directed
kitchen and living room.
Life Is lived in association and CO.
operation with other people. More
than a little of ones success in life
depends on ability to get along with
other people. Working beside them
is an important part in that scheme.
Don't isolate children. Don't overdo
their training. Keep well to the
middle of the road.
Many children behave badly
because they are not properly
fed. BE sure that your own little
hoy or girl forms correct eating
habits. Send for Angelo Patri's
booklet. Eating" inclosing 10
cents in coin. Address Angelo
Patri, care The Evening Star.