Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1941-03-29
Problems
With the Children
Issued By the Na&i0mag Ranaergar-
ten Association, West Ae&h ST..
New xeEA City
Little Pitchers"
EMMA GARY WALLACE

EMMA OkAAa4 WAAAAaACE
Parents and other adults enjoy remi-
niscing concerning their own childhood
and recounting the funny capers and
daring pranks which they used to play
Elderly people are particularly prone ia
do this If some Of their companions
OF long ago are present and the con-
versatiOn revertS to their childhood
They usually begin something like this
do you remember and then
they are off. If young children are
present, they are entranced by the
amusing tales and aStonished that their
elders ever. did such things as they
are now relating.
AS a rule, the children have been
given to understand, up to the pres
ent time, that their parents and other
relatives were exceptionally good boys
and girls-meek little creatures who
always did just what they were told
and could be depended upon to do the
right thing at all times. But now they
are hearing an entirely different story
and, in contrast, their own daring
deeds are tame.
Just what the effect of this win be
on the listening youngsters is not al
ways predictable For example, after
Johnny had heard his father tell of
high old times" he and some of the
ed to go and do likewise and some of
his attempts were destructive and even
dangerous.
On a certain Halloween, among
other pranks, Johnny and his COM
panions stretched a stout cord across
a roadway along which one or more
persons we're likely to pass. The minis
ter Of the little church at the corner
was the victim. Not looking for any
barrier, this man-loved by adults and
children, al1ke-was thrown headlong.
sustaining physical injuries that were
lifelong IN their unfortunate conse-
quences.
If mischievouS "reminiscences are to
be related for the enjoyment of those
who were boys or girls of the past, 1t
Is always best not to do it within the
hearing of children. More often than
not 1t Is time that throws a glamour
about those prankS; usually 1t did not
exist when they were played, and GER
tatnly their daring nature rarely loses
anything in the telling. Those relating
the stories usually enjoy dressing them
up to make them sound as amusing as
possible. Here again the children are
likely to get an exaggerated idea of
what actually happened and to feel
that If their parents, who are now
highly respected, did these things, it
must be all right for them to do SINH
lar ones.
Further than that, when parents a |
little later find 1t necessary to repri- |
mand their children for particularly
behavior, the boys and |
girls are more than likely to say, to
themselves at least, something of this |
sort: "Oh, so you are scolding me for /
! little thing like this, when you used !
% do a great deal worse yourself. It
sn't fairl When grow up, I want to |
nave funny things to talk about with |
hose I played with when I was little" /
In this way it may be that many
parents are today responsible for much |
# the roiStering conduct Of children |
Who are out with the intention of hay
ng harmless good time.
Little pitchers" always have had
md probably always viii have big
AIRS" Let us not forget that. The chill
lren may hear more and remember
more and misconstrue more than we
hink possible. So it is wise to take no
hanceS.