First Stages Of MAN

Radio Record, Volume VII, Issue 52, 5 July 1935, Page 54

First Stages Of MAN

S we’ grow older, the past is. always more charming than the present. . We paint it with a glamour which softens its harsh outlines and lightens its. gloomy shadows. Most of us say that childhood was the happiest period of our lives, but an anlysis of our reactions then may not have produced that result, writes Dr. Mary Anthony ina London exchange. . The baby, of course, is. completely and tncon-. sciously happy when he is well fed, comfortable and sleepy. Passing through life’s different stages, he comes again in old age to the period of -unconscious happiness with his physical wants completely satisfied. For the first year or so, baby is naturally the centre and. the pivot of his own little world. He cries to make known his wants and he discovers that the Jouder he cries the more quickly does he gain attention. A normal, healthy baby cries only for a definite reason: becatise he wants something or he is 1ncomfortable. An ailing child will cry for hours. » He does so to be' picked up and comforted, because his little bones ache from lying . too long in the same position. or he has an obscure pain which prevents his reaching that happy state of blissful easy sleep. . The celicate child must, of course, be studied, and nursed, and allowed to cry as little as possible. But the healthy child.soon begins to cry when things. bore him, such as dressing and undressing or lying alone in his: pram. ; In these early months training can begin. Dressing is turned into a game, ‘so that pushing arms in and out of vests or having ihe face and ears washed becomes an affair of rhvthm and mirth,. Children quickly learn the meaning of "One, two, three, push." and so dressing goes on rapidly.’ -- Those who are afraid of the bath can be given little floating dishes and ducks to-put in the

water. As they try to grab these and hold them in their tiny. fists all fear is forgotten, and they splash ‘and kick about quite happily. Drying all the little crevices between fingers and toes and folds of fat skin is usually a tedious affair, but even this is beguiled by counting each little finger and toe or playing any of

the time-honoured nursery games. _ Alf this may appear to be unnecessary, but a trial of such methods will convince a mother that it is time well spent. The nursery becomes a place of laughter instead of tears and yells, and the routine is gone through more quickly. ‘Discipline naked ‘and undisguised should have no place in the nursery. Babies. cannot reason; they are innocent, offenders, and yet misguided people will train a baby by fear. The sensitive ear at once appreciates the significance of the harsh tone or the loud voice. . An infant is soon cowed, and he is no longer. cheerful and happy as he gives up his toys submissively. 3 For toddlers, discipline in the nursery is necessary. Otherwise, they will never learn. to, be tidy, clean and punctual. . Once rules are established, they should not be broken, so that a habit may be formed easily and painlessly. | / After a short holiday, such as Easter, children ms return home’a little spoilt. Relations want to give th little visitor the best time possible, so that he is Andulged and humoured in every way. He should not be expected to resume his normal routine at once. It is cruel to insist on his afternoon sleep, and to keep him forcibly in his cot wheti he has not slept in the day-time during the holidays. A battle of wills at this juncture usually results in the child yielding suddenly after a few days’ sharp-struggle. but his sense of repression leads him ‘into acts of naughtiness long after the tussle of wills between him and his mother has been forgotten. — _. At this period the child is much’ more centred on his mother than on his father, though later on the father maybe the dominant figure. Repressions and fears should not appear on the miental horizon during these impressionable years. The sky should be un--clouded:and'the world . (Continued on page 58.)

The First Stage ‘of Man

(Continued from page 54.) peaceful and bright. The correct attitude of mind is everything in‘life as the pagan philosopher knew when he said: "Our thoughts are our lives." Through them our reactions and our habits, our emotions of happiness or sorrow are intiuenced. Teach a child to obey readily and cheerfully, but do not insist on congtant and mechanical’ response. All young things are full of wayward impulses which it would be unnatural to control. That is why cruelty to children should be considered. a more serious crime than the law holds it at present. . To crush the gay niovements, to duil the sparkling eye, and to darken the ‘horizon with frets and fears. is surely more heinous than. beating "or starving a dog, and yet, apparently, the punishment for both is about the same. Toddlers are often afraid of anything new -or strange, but they soon become aecustomed to it if they are allowed to do so.by degrees. A child should not be forced into a frightening situation in an effort to train him. Misguided ‘people will throw a child into the sea because he cried and screamed at his first immersion. Instead .of helping him to be brave, the shock may create "a dread of the water which cannot be be easily overcome. The simple habits of life are the most important. ‘ ‘Train your child‘ not to be fussy about sleeping. | If. possible a room to himself, or at least a bed to himself is desirable, as sleep under good conditions is of the greatest value to agrowing child. A baby should. go fo dleep, without rocking or-singing. -If he rocks himself or shakes his head he. should be kept quiet by patting him or placing a pillow behind his back. With infants over six months this pillow should be removed directly he is sound asleep, as in turning over he may bury his head in it with unpleasant consequences. The training and disciplining of 2 family, should not be left to the mother alone. As children grow older father’s authority should, support her efforts. "As a sort of.appeal eourt, which he : usually becomes, father should use his powers of leniency with circumspection and only after due consultation with mother who has already promulgated ., sentence. Tf parents co-operate in . peace and harmony the unbringing. of the family should be ‘a joy rather than ‘a -burden, no: matter how low may be the family exchequer.:,