Don is For Parents

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30233, 11 September 1963, Page 15

Don is For Parents

(Special Correspondent N.ZJ’.A.)

LONDON, September 10. Parents shout too much, smoke too much, have long boring conversations, sing too loudly in church, insist on absolute silence when their favourite radio or television programmes are on, fuss terribly, worry too much, bang doors early in the morning and cut short the sweetest pleasures with orders to go to bed. This, says “The Times.” is

a summary of complaints made by a group of five to 10-year-olds in Norfolk who were recently invited to compile a list of don’ts for grown ups. The phrase most frequently appearing in the complaints was: “Don’t shout at me.”

Others were: Don’t say things about me to another grown-up when I am there, it makes me feel silly. Don’t compare us with the children of years ago. Don’t forget to say please when you want

me. Don’t call my things rubbish. Don’t always say it's bedtime when I want to play a nice game. Don’t keep paying be quiet when the news is on because I just can’t stop talking—after all I do have to be quiet in school all day. Don’t always say “no” when I ask if I can do something. Don’t push me too bard on the swings. Don’t send me to bed early. Don’t make me eat carrots. Don’t be so full of don’ts to me.