Roanoke Rapids daily herald., 1948-12-15
HOME
Teach Tot
That mo"
Means Nc"
By GARRY CLEVELAND MYERS, Ph.D.


YESTERDAY we considered the
needless attention many a young
child demands of the baby sitter, to
minister to this child's wants and
whirs after he has gone to bed.
Some children from two to six climb
out of bed while with baby sitter;
and they usually do so when their
mother is home. Also the baby sitter
may have many other difficulties at
managing this tot.
Now you may not choose to au-
thorize the baby sitter to spank
your child or to use any other physi-
cal force, not being quite sure you
should give her such authority. But
you can prepare your child to be
controlled safely by the baby sitter
In the following ways: Train this
youngster from the time he begins
to toddle that No means No. rare
ly using this word. Use the bare
fat hand low on the tots bare legs,
if necessary, to establish this mean
ing. Don't use a poisonous tongue.
my bulletin, "How Teach Tot
Meaning of NO." may be had in a
stamped envelope.)
Chair Sitting
As soon as you have this mean
ing well established (and it can be
done before the child is three). you
can abandon spanking. Instead, for
punishment, assign him to sit with
out playthings on a chair, box or
the floor for exactly Is or 20 min
utes. To make this control measure
work, he must know that if he
moves from the chair before the
time is up he will be smacked sharp
ly on his bare thighs with your bare
fiat hand.
Gea this chair-sitting technique
well established and you then can
advise the baby sitter in the young
ster's presence to use it, if neces-
sary, clearly showing her just how.
See what such training also would |
mean to this child and his teacher
if at school the teacher found it wise |
to have him, in case he became a
nuisance in the classroom, sit in a
chair at the back of the room doing
nothing for a definite brief period,
while she went on with her regular
work with the other children. Then
you could feel safer about the con-
troll of yourachild by the baby sitter
or teacher. Indeed, your child so
trained would be less likely to get
spanked or whipped by anybody, in
cluding yourself.
Reading to Child
You also want the baby sitter to
find ways to amuse the young child |
quietly before his bedtime and to
win his warm companionship and
cooperation. If you have enjoyed
his building and making things with
his hands, his coloring, drawing,
cutting and pasting, he will have
been prepared to go on at such crea-
tive activities with the baby sitter,
whom you might easily encourage
In such matters.
Then if you have been saying
nursery rhymes and reading tc this
child since he was hardly two, he
should be ready to enjoy being read |
to by the baby sitter. (My special
list of books from which to read |
to the baby and young child may
be had in a stamped envelope.)
It's what has been stored up in
this tyke's nervous system, in his |
head and heart, over weeks and |
months and years that will help |
guarantee his best guidance by the
baby sitter, and his own greatest
happiness, not to mention your
peace of mind.
Answering Parents Questions
Q. Our son, a year old, still
wakens several times night de-
msndinv q bottle, | feel he is old |