Evening star., 1942-03-11
Baby Likes
To Be Given
Encourage Bright
Personality by
Amusing Him
Br IcHicc Lee Street,

It is fun for YOU to play with
yOur baby. IF vou enjoy him. as
well as attend 70 his physical needs,
It means a grea; deal to you and
his happiness and Contcntmcnt to-
e. her.
Tao little baby who is shown af-
fcCtlOnato attention by a cheerful
mother is very likely to grow into
a sunny n7tured. responsive child.
We all Ike to have others show
an interest in us, and TO be svm-
pathetic listeners when We talk.
Well. an infant cannot talk. but
he has baby WAYS of expressing
himself and he loves to be noticed
and PLAYED with.
The wise mother takes the time
10 talk 20. TO cuddIe or TO gently
"romD' with her wee son or dauph-
ter. and sAe also performs the daily
duties 0f his care with smiling
face as Shc chats or sings com
panlOn2hiv to him This encOur-
ages many bright and gay person.
aEty trans that tho average healthy
baby owns naturally. Babies love
fun. and when they are allowed it
they are being trained toward good
mental .l glene because the happy
baby feels emotionalIy secure.
Some people are able to play with
babies and children more easily
than others, lust as some of us get
on better with children than do
others. Possibly this is because
they have d natural sympathy and
liking for Youngsters and enjoy
their company.
But any one who has a baby quite
easily can learn to be a good COM
nanion by giving the matter little
thought. The secret is, I think, to
forget that YOU are a grownup and
TO come down 10 the mental level
Of the HOungstcr. This holds true
Of babies and older children. TOO.
SO WnCn YOUR baby is having his
n]aytlmc enter into the spirit of it.
He will not think YOU are silly when
you clap Your hands or pretend YOU
are bear or A dog crawling on the
floor or when YOU initiate any of the
animal sounds. such as a meow,
moo, and so on, that make little
children hold their sides with laugh
ter.
Actually the silly groWnup is the
one who makes ridiculous baby talk
to A 5-Year-old or who chucks a
baby under the chin and treats
children in general as though they
were freaks.
Until an infant is 6 months old
his play and exercise periods should
be Of short duration. If he whim-'
pcrS or reSists put him back into his
crib, A little baby can get tired
very quickly.
l dO not think that an infant
younger than 6 weeks should be ex-
ercised or stimulated by play of
any kind. He should be allowed
the long hours of undisturbed sleep
that the new born need to gather
their strength for growth and to
recover from the shock of birth.
The less a tiny baby is handled the
better.
Nor should any baby be played
with roughly or to the accompani-
ment of loud laughing or noises.
Excitement after feelings or before
bedtime should be outlaWed in every
baby'S house.
Don't be fooled by thinking that
because a baby cannot talk that he
is deaf to the atmosphere around
him. Wise psychological care dur
ing infancy is a very important
part of rearing a sound child The
young baby is alive to his mothers
anxiety, anger, impatience or lack
Of sympathy, and by the same token
he will absorb her mirth and good
humor, because gayety is very con-
tagious. Childhood was meant for
1ight-hearted laughter. but babies
learn only what they see and hear
around them. so if you want a sweet
tempered, smiling child, be sweet
ter,oDprpd and smiling Yourself