Children are Human,

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 274, 22 December 1939, Page 7 (Supplement)

Children are Human,

Better Parents Make Better Chil

[OT very long ago I met a beaming young mother. “The baby is six months old to-day,” ~=rr —? she said, “and the hardest part is over!” She was blissfully certain that the years were stretching ahead in long merry enjoyment of his growing charm and intelligence.

He would probably show both qualities, and if the doting aunts and grandmothers would keep hands off, and the adoring parents keep their heads, the time should be happy and intensely interesting. But so often these baby years from one to five, when the young man steps out into the big world of kindergarten and school, are used to build up as nice a set of difficulties as is possible. You may have witnessed some such scene as this:

The family gathers of a Sunday afternon and. Junior comes in, a little self-conscious in a new sailor suit. When you’re four years old, a sailor suit with a real whistle on a white cord in the pocket, is a great event in life. “Isn’t he perfectly adorable!” says Aunt Margaret and tries to pull him toward her. If he doesn’t plant his small feet firmly and resist with all his strength it’s a wonder. But sometimes he doesn’t and only wriggles away from her petting and., examining of his clothes and person. Sounds .silly, I suppose, to say that young children have quite a sense of reserve and personal dignity—the only trouble is that if they ex-

hibit it they are judged unfriendly and ill-tempered. Aunt Margaret is satisfied at last and has ohed and ahed and talked baby talk until poor little Junior is about ready to sink through the floor with embarrassment. Then Uncle Horace comes along, and pulls the whistle out of the pocket and blows on it a mighty blast. No by your leave or polite request that the whistle be loaned a minute. Yet if small Junior were to grab Uncle’s watch from his pocket what a roar would go up from all and sundry. Why, in the name of common sense, can’t we stop worrying over child problems and problem children and treat them like ordinary human beings? We have been told, in the last few years, that childhood is some mysterious period filled with the gravest dangers in the matter of upbringing. Now that the doctors have discovered ways to prevent many of the children’s diseases "which have physical form we are being scared to death again over a new set of menaces—this time mental and psychological ones. Yet, if we were to treat the grown people we meet casually, or live with regularly, in the same way that so many small children are treated we should get exactly what was .coming to us. But to get back to the whistle. “Give the whistle to me,” orders Daddy. “I bet Uncle Horace broke it!” He goes through the motions of blowing and not a

Tlne Commonsense Way to a Happy Family Li:

sound comes out eyes fill with tears. “I think you’re Aunt Margaret. “You’re mean!’ small boy and stan “Isn’t he cunning mad?” remarks so: “Smart kid!” proudly, “always own.” So one teases hii other, egging hitr furious and baffled landing on him 1 bricks—when they the fun. And the mad —good and ma “Georgie!” says surprised at yourudely.” “George,” says fa clenly feels he mus parent, “behave yc like a gentleman!” to that point no acted like either a tleman. But chile: an example to the Not that pre-sch rudeness are go Junior for life—l d the serious-miml who insist we a jelled at the age these wrong start make adjustment when he goes out circle. If lie goes tivities with a mei shoulder, someboi knock it off. Th will wonder wh\ can’t get along w ren.