The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1946-01-10
Child Should be Taught 10
See E1endLmy of World

~ child Ia 10 mature into a
healthy normal adult he must come
10 think OF his world as friendly and
/ benevolent and not as hostile and
antagonlstic." said DR. J. y. r..
| Struthers. the newly. psy-
chiatrist OF the Huron Valley Chill
dren's Center located on the Nor
nal College campus. Dr. Struthers
spoke Wednesday evening on The
Basic Principles OF Work with
Children" before the Civic Study
Group OF the Ypsilanti Association
OF University Women Of which Mrs
Leslie Butler Is chairman.
The speaker stressed importance
of early experiences In the life OF
a child. He said. these early i'm
pressions create his world-whether
Il shall be a friendly or n hostile
world. II is essential that the child
think OF his world as benevolent.
otherwise he will become defen-
siye or even aggressive, carrying
chip on his shoulder for the re-
mainder OF his life. The place to
develop happy experiences is in
the home. But too often a child's
behavior creates antagonism be-
cause OF unfavorable conditions at
home and elsewhere. Every child
projects the imprints OF his first
five years OF life into all his sub
Ia
world. He should be able TO face
this great big world beyond the Sc
Curity OF his parental roof with
confidence and a sense OF adequacy.
Parents, teachers and all adults
help or hinder the child In these
adjustments. The youngster nat.
urally initiates older people whom
he admlres or envies. All children,
as well as adults. must have
sense Of security and belonging. OF
being wanted and accepted. espe.
cially II they are not gifted or brill
liant"
DR.. Struthers pointed out that
adults often make the mistake OF
expecting too much OF child. Our
demands and expectations should
not exceed the child's capacity at a
given stage in his maturation. He
must be helped TO attain adulthood
by parents who have themselves at
tanned II. But unfortunately adults
too often outchlldren children in
their reactions to annoying eX-
periences," he said. Dr.. Struthers
defined maturity as the ability to
handle ones responsibilities. the
ability to postpone pleasures In the
interests OF present responsibilities
and obligations. and the ability to
exercise foresight and self-direc-
ton" II is also important TO be
able 10 face reality and to take into
stride whatever comes your way
and TO react to your experiences
effectively. he pointed out.
The various phases OF the chlld's
development were discussed under
three headings the physical. the
intellectual. and the emotional. The
child should receive the benefit OF
tHe tTtultHupuH uuNdHttS OF It'tAN
scientific aids by way Of better liv-
ing on the physical plane. better
food. better medical care and all
the other advantages OF modern
science, IL was stated. On the in.
tellectual level" the speaker said,
progress cannot be accelerated by
wishful thinking on the part OF par
ents. The danger OF placing too
great a responsibility on the child
will only serve TO develop in him a
sense OF failure and Illustration.
Society has failed to accent chill
dren who are limited In their capa-
city for superior adjustments, but
who must nevertheless live and
grow UP and make numerous com
plicated adjustments. We should
help the child to utilize his own re-
sources. such as they are, to the
fullest extent. To aid him ade-
quately in his mental development
we should be good listeners. Other
wise he will lose his curiosity and
cease 10 ask questions. This will