Country Life Interests

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21224, 21 September 1940, Page 5

Country Life Interests

X A page devoted to the interests of the Country Women of the Tt () Waikato, and in particular to advancing and recording the activities of (] X those two great national organisations, the Women's Institutes and the v Women's Division of the Farmers’ Union.

WHY IS YOUR CHILD NAUGHTY?

(Published under the auspices of the Royal New Zealand Society for the Health of Women and Children—Plunket Society). “ It is u’iser to put up a fence at the top of a precipice than to maintain an ambulance at the bottom. ■'J’HE following talk to mothers was taken from the Mother and Child Journal : If your child is naughty, if he is selfish, if he “shows off.” it may not be altogether his fault. Perhaps you have made him like this. All children are naughty at times, of course, but where naughtiness has become a habit instead of an occasional lanse. there is reason to susoect that all may not be well in the parents’ attitude to the child, and parents who honestly desire their child’s well-being and contentment will ask themselves some heart-searching questions, such as these : “ Are you nicer to one child than to another ? Do you try to make the children do unimportant things just for the sake of showing them you are ‘ boss ’?” This is what the Americans call throwing your weight about, and it makes children resentful and disobedient, just as it angers grown-up peonle when they have to endure it from others in authority. Do you laugh at your child sometimes when he is naughty and sometimes when he is good ? No wonder he is puzzled ! How can he possibly know what to do in order to please his parents ? Is your attitude consistent; that is. can your child understand your attitude to right or wrong ? Do you punish the children when you are angry ? The story is told of a mother who was punishing her little boy very severely when a friend asked her whether it did the child any good to be smacked so hard. The mother answered. “ Perhaps it doesn’t do him anv good, but it does me lots of good.” Children know when they are being punished unfairly, and unjust punishment will only make them more difficult than ever to manage. Do you punish your children ton severely ? If you do this they will tell lies to avoid beins punished. Mistakes in Training to Avoid Are you always truthful yourself, both in what you say and what you do ? Supposing a friend telephones and asks you, for example, to go to the pictures with her. and your boy answers the telephone; do you say to him, “I don’t want to go; tell her I have a headache”? Can you wonder if the next morning your boy has “a headache” when it is time for him to go to school ? Does your child make a fuss at bed time ? Perhaps you have been putting him to bed in the daytime to punish him. Perhaps you have allowed him to stay up late some nights when people were visiting you, or to go with you to the pictures. He does not want to go to bed at the proper time in case he misses some fun. Are you letting your little child grow up and begin to be independent of you. or are you trying to keen him a baby ? We cannot blame parents for being rather sad when they see their baby growing out of babvhood; but it is a very bad policy to try to hold back the child’s growth, to trv to force him to remain a baby by doing everything for him. by talking to him in “ baby talk.” Children want to do things for themselves, and if they are not allowed to try they very often become naughty. They love to “ help,” and though their efforts may be clumsy at first, they should be encouraged, in spite of accidents. Some parents, when they see a broken cup, something spilled on the floor, scold the child and refuse to let him help. Later on when his parents want him to be useful and helpful he will refuse, and he will be blamed for selfishness and laziness. But who taught him to be selfish and lazy ? Do you talk about your child before him ? Many parents do this. They think the child is too young to understand —he is nnt paying attention—or else they do not think at. all. But very little children, even babies, do pay attention, and they do understand. They may not understand your words, of course, but they understand your voice and face. They know when you are talking about them. If you allow your little child to hear you say to a friend. “ No, I can’t go so early. Johnny cries if I don’t sit up with him till he goes to sleep,” you have taught him that he has only to cry and you will obey him. Then you say, “ Father, can you make Johnny eat his porridge; I can’t.” Johnny understands he has only to say, “ I won’t.” and you are helpless. If you allow a child to hear again and again in his presence that you cannot make him obey, you cannot wonder if he becomes disobedient. Tell of Your Child’s Cleverness in His Absence Another point—when he is within hearing, do you describe to your friends your child’s amusing, clever sayings and doings ? That is the way to turn him into a “ show-off,” wanting attention all the time. It is natural, of course, for parents to talk about their child’s ways and laugh together over the funny little remarks he makes, but they should keep this pleasure until the child is out of ear-shot. Disagreements between the parents on some points of management in the child’s presence is another frequent cause of disobedience. If the mother forbids him to go out to play and father, more easy going, says, “ Oh, let him go; why shouldn’t he? ” the child naturally feels he need not obey his mother. Parents who are eager to be good parents will never let each other down in this way. If one thinks the other has made a mistake, they will talk it over when the child cannot hear. These are only a few of many possible causes of naughtiness in little children, but they are very frequent ones. It is perhaps a novel—and perhaps unpleasant—idea to suggest that parents may be responsible for the naughtiness of their children, but parents who really wish to solve the difficulties of their children will be ready to examine the suggestion. To criticise their method of handling children may be the means of finding some unexpected clues to solve this problem.

WOMEN’S INSTITUTE

GORDONTON The meeting of the Gordonton ( Women’s Institute was held in the hall supper-room, Mrs Cleland presiding over a fair attendance. j After the business was disposed of the junior matrons took control and an enjoyable time was spent, there being several competitions and j a playette. The roll call was “A j perfume and what it recalled.” The winner of the photograph competition was Mrs W. Corsvell, j and the flower competition was won j by Mrs C. Thomas. The ladies of Piako Road were deputed to pack the soldiers’ parcels. Afternoon tea was served. HORSHAM DOWNS The monthly meeting of the Horsham Downs Women's Institute was held in the Horsham Downs Hall recently, when the president. Mrs N. Fulton, presided over a good attendance of members. One new member, Mrs Kirby, was enrolled. Arrangements were made to send Christmas parcels to men from the district, who are serving overseas. It was also decided to collect for the women's fighter aeroplane fund, £3 4s being contributed. Competitions resulted as follows: —Knitted bed socks, Mrs Cunningham; vase of flowers, Mrs Ross Bruce. Many parcels of clothing were contributed for the refugees, and also many balaclavas for the soldiers. After the conclusion of Institute business Mr A. E. Gibbons, president of the Waikato Red Cross centre, gave a most interesting talk on the Red Cross Society, and the work and formation of a sub-centre. He was accorded a very hearty vote of thanks. The hostesses for the afternoon were Mrs Hunter and Mrs Blackmore. The roll call for next month is, “Gifts for the lepers.”

KEREONE There was an excellent attendance of members and friends when the Kereone Women’s Institute held its monthly meeting in the local hall recently. The president, Mrs 11. Reid, occupied the chair. It was | decided to forward Christmas parI cels to local men who are serving ! with the New Zealand forces overseas. i A sales table for the comforts fund did an excellent business. . A guessing competition arranged •by an ex-member, Mrs M. Grimstone, was won by Mrs E. Priest. The proceeds from this were donated to the comforts fund. A competij tion for the best flower in the garj den was won by Mrs A. Cameron I with a beautiful polyanthus spray. | A very interesting demonstration >on making a tailored button-hole I was given by Mrs Priest. | The serving of afternoon tea was in the hands of the hostesses, Mesdames L. Dennic, S. Houston, and E. Heaton.

KIO KIO The president, Mrs Stuart, presided at the September meeting of the Kio Kio Women’s Institute, when there was a good attendance. It was decided to make a substantial donation to the leper fund, to act as i hostesses at the local Home Guards' j field day, and to send the usual ! quota of soldiers’ parcels. | The flower show disclosed a | wonderful array of seasonal blooms, j Mesdames Bruce and R. B. Luxmore 1 j acted as judges. ! In the marmalade competition Mrs 1 Ingram was placed first, with Mes- ! dames Luxmore and Palmer second : and third. j As a result of the Red Cross shop ' i business, £6 4s 7d was sent to the ■ society. | Several parcels of clothes and ■ : articles have been sent to the Lady ■ ! Galway Guild and the Red Cross | , Society. 1 j The hostesses. Mesdames Ingram and Luxmore, served afternoon tea.