MAKE CHILDREN HAPPY

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXV, Issue 47, 21 November 1907, Page 37

MAKE CHILDREN HAPPY

We have all seen children who have had no childhood. The fun-loving element has been crushed out of them. They have been repressed and forbidden to do this and that so long tEat they have lost the faculty of having a good time. We see these little old men and women everywhere. • Children should be kept children just as long as possible. What has responsibility, seriousness, or sadness to do with childhood ? We always feel indignant, as well as sad, when we see evidences of maturity, over-seriousness, care, or anxiety in a child's face, for we know some one has sinned somewhere. The little ones should be kept strangers to anxious care, reflective thoughts, and subjective moods. Jw^'i * V f, S f h(ml \. *> c ke Pt light, bright, buoyant, cheeiful, full of sunshine, joy, arid gladness. They should be encouraged to laugh and to play and to romp to their heart s content. The serious side of life will come only too quickly, do what -we may to prolong >childnood. One of the most unfortunate things I know of is the home that is not illuminated by at least one cneerful, bright, sunny young face, that does not ring with the persistent laughter and merry voice of a child JNo man or woman is perfectly normal who is distressed aor vexed by the playing of children. There was something wrong in your bringing up if it annoys you tSn SeG en rom P in S> Rlaying, and having a good