Evening star., 1942-04-17
What Makes
Your Child
Popular?
Thoughtfulness
OF Others Wins
Them Friends
By Leffice Lee Street,

Dy LeIIfCe Lee Sffeef
Three little girls were playing
hop-scotch. pig-tails and hair bows
bobbing, their cheeks rosy pink
from excitement and hard play.
They chittered and chartered like
small sparrows. all three talking at
once. Step on q crack you'll break
your mothers back!" they shouted
at each other.
One Of their mothers paused in
her house cleaning to watch them
from the window. She heard their
voices change to the high, angry
shrillness that meant an argument,
and saw her own child stalk away,
pert nose tilted high in the air, her
lip quivering. Then the front door
banged.
The mother remained where she
was. and this is what she heard.
Betty: II don't care If she does
60 home, I DON'T like her anyway
and she doesn't like me. She's too
bossy, I want to play my way"
Nancy: "She does too like you,
and I like her and you, too, let's
play both ways. Let's go get her
to come out again.
II won't do any such thing" and
Betty was adamant.
So the two little hop p-scotchers
Jumped about for a while longer,
but the game did not seem to be
as much fun. Finally Nancy ran
into the house and soon the third
child was outdoors again and the
three were playing as happily as
before. One OF the incest things
about most children is that they
do not bear malice.
That afternoon the mother told
the story to Nancy's parents, say
ing. Your little daughter has the
sweetest instincts. I really believe
she is the most popular child in her
class, and in the neiehborhood, too
She always seems to be thinking OF
others, she even manages to make
me feel important when she talks
to me. My child is completely in
different to the wishes and comfort
Of any one except her own selfish
little self.
Il wish you would give me some
pointers"
Nancy's mother protested that
she had no idea how they had
brought their little girl up SO far
to be considerate, and turning to
her husband she smiled, Il guess
she follows Johns good example!' =
Without realizing it. this mother
had put her finger on the truth.
Hers Is a simple home, every on,
works, and gladly, because the at.
mosphere is friendly and cooper.
ative there; each member Of thu
household does his share accord.
ing to his age and ability.
1t Is the habit in this family
mother, father and three children
to make mucn Of birthdays, Christ.
mas and holidays, any special day
is an excuse for a present. Littl.
presents are Individually bought
and wrapped by the other two fol-
the birthday child, each member
takes great pains with his small
Christmas gifts, they have beer
raised to think Of each other, tt
give to each other.
When one of these children ha.
success at school, at home or any.
where. his praises are sung alouc
before him, in the family circle. Or
the other hand, competitors art
praised, too. but never held up a.
an example.
In short, it is the same old story
our children mimic us. We have
to show them the way, through oul
own thoughts, words and actions
If we want our children to sincere.
ly look others in the eye with &
real light Of interest shining there
if We want them to honestly cart
if another person is happy, or wei
or comfortable, we must care, too
The secret OF popularity is tn,
ability to recognize that others hav,
interests and feeling that are i'm.
portant to them, and to sympathize
Further, the much-liked person i.
he who knows that others have Z
right to their likes and dislikes.
AS a child grows older he gradu.
ally learns much Of this from ex.
perience, but he will learn more
quickly, and be a far more engag.
ing individual. If he also has the
advantage of learning from the ex.
ample set by his mother and father