The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1943-08-26
SELF-CONTROL
BY HJLDA RICHMOND

Behavior problems are usually due TO
for example. are really exhibitions Of
emotional disturbance during which
the child lets go and gives full rein
to anger, disappointment, stubbornnesS,
jealousy or whatever state of mind
clamors for expression.
\ thinker who has given Il good deal
OF attention to character education and
to the development Of agreeable per-
sonality patterns on the part of little
children tells us: "Self-control is one
of the influential attributes of thinking
individuals"
This being the case, it plainly is inn
portant that the teaching of Self-con-
troll should begin when the child is
kindly but firm manner aS infancy
mergcS into later childhood.
Just how shall we go about such
teaching? How shall we carry it on?
pursue, to lose no time after birth in
establishing regularity of physical
habits, and in 50 far as possible to
avoid interruption of such habits. The
young child should have regular
periods for bathing, feeding, sleeping
after the little one has been put to
bed he should not be disturbed The
lesser evil is to let the visitors 20 home
without seeing him.
| MI other habits that are found to be
advisable should be given Il regular
time and place Then, for much of the
| time the little one should be left undiS-
! turbed 10 become accustomed to
natural conditions around him. He
should learn, as early rs possible, to
! be good-nalurcd and to enjoy himself.
| When we have aided him TO establish
such behavior, we have laid Il very
good foundation for self-control.
But if Il child is irregular i'm his
! physical habits, hc will be irritable. If
| regular hours are not maintained for
rest. exercise in the open air, bedtime
Iand 50 forth, nerves will get on edge
and outburSlS Of irrilablity will fol
! low because of jatigue.
! And the moment that Il child finds
| that by making Il fuss he can get his
own Way, he viii become more and
more ready to cry or make the Kind of
Ia rumpuS he has learned how to make.
II" iHS NOW learned his first lessons in
/ lack OF Scli-Cnutrol, and from this
point ON, the emotions will be more
! and more Il governing factor in the
program of the chid'S life.
When, in such cases, an outburst oc-
cur$ the course of treatment to fol
low is one of apparent Indifference.
! The child should be ignored and If pos
Sibl" put into Il room by himself and
! IrTt there 10 learn the needed lesson
that an uproar doesn't secure anything
for him or do any good Few children
will continue their exhibition of bad
temper very long if they are left with
out an audience
Much the sam" is true when children
refuse TO eat If they are not i'll, and
such refusal is IN attention-getling de-
vice, they should not be urged to eat
nor bribcd with the promise of some
d"licacy, nor should they be scolded
They should Wait until the next meal
at most receiving nothing more be
tween meals than Il drink of milk.
When they find that ii is Il case OF
eat when they ought to eat or 90 with
Tout, they'll soon discover that Self-con
troll is much more comfortable than
yielding To their wild emotions. Sue
cess and happiness in later life depend
50 very much upon self-control that un
fortunate is the person who lacks it.
Wbatbhr il Ia. ,,ournr .n Mos or Nnl1