THE SPIRIT OF WAR

Evening Star, Issue 22143, 25 September 1935, Page 5

THE SPIRIT OF WAR

CAM TOYS FOSTER IT? EFFECT OF FRUSTRATED DESIRE. The when it is old enough to have a choice, displays its natural interests and tendencies in the playthings that it selects. But do the toys that are given to children play any part in developing their character and outlook? asks Mary Truby King in an Austra-. lian exchange. A Tasmanian reader has raised this question. She writes as follows:—“ I should like to have your opinion on toys for children. My son is very keen to own a pistol. His father says: ‘ Why not?’ and would give him guns, soldiers, tanks, and all the array of warlike mechanical toys that are for sale these days. Does this not foster the spirit of war in our young?” This is a difficult question. Naturally we hate war and the thought of bringing up our children as barbarians who cannot settle disputes except by the sacrifice of human life. But, will the withholding of all warlike toys really help our children to a hatred of war?

The small boy referred to has a strong desire to own a pistol, as I suppose many of liis “ cobbers ” do. The desire to be on an equal footing with his friends is far greater in the average child_ than the urge _to destroy. By denying the child a pistol, will not the mother make him all the more keen to possess one?

Frustration of a keen desire usually means that the child will scheme and plan with great ingenuity to overcome the obstacles placed in his way. One has to consider the child’s sense of inferiority. If, at school, John and Billy and Michael sport a gun, the child will feel very inferior if he lias to own up: “ Mother won’t let me.” Give the child the toys his heart desires and in all probability, when the novelty has worn off, -he will turn his attentions with just as much enthusiasm to less warlike pursuits. I am inclined to agree with the father, for if the mother denies the child the longed-for pistol, he will probably save up his pennies and go and buy one, unknown to his parents, and hide it somewhere. And then_ what have you done ?. You have, albeit unknowingly, encouraged dishonesty by fostering a temptation, When you have given the 'child the pistol, instruct him how to use it. It must never be pointed at any human being. Make this rule absolute.