THE FOUNDATIONS OF CHARACTER BUILDING.

Hutt News, Volume 3, Issue 6, 3 July 1930, Page 3

THE FOUNDATIONS OF CHARACTER BUILDING.

Do not rob a child of the years 0$ irresponsible, joyous childhood. We ca& I only be children once, and only^ £px a j.few years, yet into that, brief span of yoars, when the world is new tp -us and so "full of surprises and delights-, are crowded all of those wonderful' events, those deeds of daring, those dreams of romance and adventtue, those uuibridled ambitions, those expansive hopes, the memory of which never quite fades, and becomes the solace of our old age. Givo a child the Widest liberty possiMe to its circumstances and environment; let it feel i^s feet and try itsstrength, and shape for itself a place in its little world without hindrance and without the fear of reproof for anything but wrongdoing, and do not make tho boundary-line between -right and wrong too narrow. Dp not make mountains bW of the little male-hills which must appear on tihe highways of its life; do not setup a bogie at every crossing f^ do not make a crime of every mistake.

Let a child natural character form itself naturally; do not break the tender 'branch as it spreads itself out into the genial air; but content yourselves by gently directing it in the right direction. It may easily be broken, easily fcwistcd a.way into an ugly shape; and it may just as easily be trained into a noble'■ shape, beautiled by leaves that

never wither and flowers that' always '

Give?- a cliikl a due s-luiro.of the good tilings life provides; see that they are suitable to its tastes and worthy of preservation. Do not give a child trumpery gifts meant for speedy destruction, but only those it will prize and treasure and turn to again and again, as it woukl turn to beloved friends and congenial companions. Encourage the girl to care for and watch over her dolls, .protecting and treasuring them as she will some day care for her children. Give the boy a miniature gun or a boat, an engine or a horse, according to his taste, that he may know himself a man with a man's work to do some day.

.Encourage and faster the family bond between brother and sister, and sJwwveach how to serve the other with constant acts of hel/pfulness and eomtadeship; do Hot separate them, and foster the antagonism of sex. bliiidxeu' axo chi'ldreiv:. .first, and boys and girls afterwards. Do not let girls become shy lest fhey become sly, or boys rough lest they become rude. Teach the girl the art of joyaus service, and the boy tie, pride of chivalry. Remember alwaySj that tlio 'girl is the future mother pjs\ the boy the future father of Jtegfi^c-' raition t-hat must jaext carjy on. the woiild.

First lay the founda.t>pj>s o;E a healthy body and a wholesjc^ie SJJnd. Delay school-days until jpl.^yjt>me has given strength and ela^tijß^*. A strong body insures a clejß/r Jywn, and a clear brain is receptive jritylc a strong body will carry a full brain without fatiguC. faic c-liiJcl^s brain is receptive, greedy for knowledge —see that that knowledge is healthy alike for bpdy and brain, both of which can be easily Contaminated, for youtih is inquisitive and easily /acquires evil ajr we'll as good.

. Full employment in hoalt>h-giving play jind an adequate supply of knowledge suitable to the young inquiring mind leaves no time and allows no inclination for secret thoughts and idle mischief. A child loves the open-air and thrives mentally whilo it grows pthysically. Its mind and body inihales the pure oxygen, and the germs of cvii and disease are resisted by the clean skin and the pure blood of health. Wisdom is as easily taught as wrong, and itfhe pathway of joy leads up to the hilltop straight through and beyond the tangled and roscky scrub.

. Let the child make early acquaintance wiitfli the tales of good deeds and high-acmlbitioris; the child is imitative by instinct, and. quickly influenced by deals. Do not encourage ma'wkishness and prudisihness, for thereby is taught seoretiveness and morosen^ess, but dra^r the child to you in full confidence so that you may the more easily giuide and restrain and support. The joyful heart never grieves 'but catches the quick contagion of humour, and thumour is the saving grace that makes meanness and foolishness shameful. 'l Example is better than preempt," and a seasoinaible word of helpfulness is

better than a aennon on abstract morality. No tru-e child is a philosop-her,

but every child is sensitive and responsive to the guiding and supporting hand of love.