THE CHILDREN'S BAD TEMPEH.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 35, 5 November 1907, Page 3

THE CHILDREN'S BAD TEMPEH.

Although bad .temper does not rank' as a nee, its effect may bo as harmful, and makes morounhappi'ness in a home than almost any other fault. Parents, therefore, who have their children's well-being at heart will, do „ woll to check it beforo it becomes totally ungovernable. It should be wrestled with early, and overcome if possible.. As punishment for an outburst of temper, a holiday or promised treat should be cancelled, or the child'should be sent to bed. The young naturally crave for praise and love, so, perhaps, the'most effectual and moral way to deal with this fault is to inculcate in the child the dread of going through life unpopular and disliked on account of a trait which it is quite possible to alter for the-better if ho really wishes to do so. ■■-.. But before taking measures to euro a ohild's ill-temper parents should endeavour to probe tho matter to the root, and so ascertain the cause of the little one's irritation It is so usual for children to he happy and light-hearted, that peevishness is more often than not tho outcome of some 1 physical infirmity, and, if this is tho case, judicial treatment of a child's body will be moro just than punishment. Then, again, violent temper , is sometimes hereditary, and when this is so tho unfortunate possessor of this legacy should be dealt with firmly'-lint with great circumspection. Corporal punishment would be very urtwiso for this offence. It will bb,. of course, impossible to cure a bad temper without tho co-operation of the one so afflicted, and parents, by diplomacy should try to obtain this desideratum. When a child shows a disposition to amond, a few words of encouragement should bo , given, and sometimes a little reward.