MODERN CHILDREN

Shannon News, 24 September 1929, Page 4

MODERN CHILDREN

ARE THEY SELFISH? In tihe days of large families many of the > Christian virtues were learnt and practised at an early age. "You must give it up to your baby brother," taught generosity, and before the baby had learnt selfishness he in turn bad to practise generosity towards yet a youngeT child. Nowadays the only child is in much danger of becoming an egoist. The give-and-take of the nursery world can never be learnt elsewhere. ' For this re-aso-i a greater responsibility is laid on the modern mother, and many'a mother does mot' realise what an enormous influence she possesses over her child. The e-hild's desire f6r power, for self-assertion, is frequently satisfied by the mere repetition of "n0,.n0," and the pitting of his will against hers. He is trying to draw her attention to his actions, and often a judicious neglect works wonders. Attention must certainly be paid to his needs and desires, but .not to an excessive degree. The child must not gain the idea that he is in any way out .of the ordinary, but rather encour- j aged to attempt greater things than he has already done. Absorption in self is natural to childhood, and thought for others only comes gradually. Self-assertion is an instinct, and all instincts lead through feeling and emotion to 'action. The child must not be blamed for his inherited instinct, but led by his environment to modify it in relation to others.