ADVICE TO PARENTS

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 269, 10 August 1938, Page 6

ADVICE TO PARENTS

Psychological Factor In Problems Of Home GUIDANCE OF CHILDREN Starting 30 years ago with the George Junior Republic in America, interest in child psychology and the establishment of clinics had jpread throughout the world, said Professor Hunter, speaking at the fathers’ night of the Petone Mothers’ League. Experimental work had proved that children of both sexes who came within the scope of the law were not, under reasonable conditions, naturally vicious. An American professor had said that to prevent tragedy in later life it was necessary to direct tbe earliest years of the child.

“Man was not the highly intellectual organism he thought himself. Ik had looked upon himself as a rational animal, but the truth was that he was only slowly becoming such. Tbe manner in which home problems were frequently dealt with was proof of this. The early years of the child were tremendously important. The very young child was confronted with manv difficulties. An English professor had traced 90 per cent, of minor breaches of the law to conflict m e home. One investigator had said that the great purpose of psychological clinics was to produce parents capable of bringing up their children. The point of view ot the child and tbe adult were fundamentally opposite. The child could not adjust itself to phases of its lite unless it had the understanding and sympathy ot the grown-up. The great mass ot parents followed the tradition of bringing up their children as they had been brought up. . principle they would not dream of appfjing to any other sphere of life. Mental Hygiene. People were only beginning to get . a glimmering of the subject of child l’ b ' chology. There was a great tendency to over-pamper the child, to be over-all.ee-tionate. fearful, and to do too much ior him. The result was that the child was deprived of his independence and was unable to stand on his own leer in the school world. His early experience should adapt him for this, but the child who had been tied to his mothers apron strings was at a disadvantage. 1 ‘ which everyone recognised a L,", cc^ Sfl E in the physical life of tlie child should be repeated in bis psychological lifeHygiene of" the mind was as important as hvgiene of the body. If this was recognised the percentage of inmates of the mental hoDiitals would not be so high. The chilu who did not have reasonable eare and affection retired into a world of his own creation. It was more comfortable and he could achieve in that world what he could not in actuality. The second type had an overdose of care and affection, with frequently disastrous results. Emotional Dingers. Modern science hnd revealed that a great deal could be done in the case ot physical defects if dealt with sufficiently early. An apparent mental defect had frequently been proved due to a physical cause. When a child did not talk or walk when lie should advice should be sought. , , , i People brought their moral standards to bear on many actions of the child, but the child was not a moral being; he was a young animal. A child was thus often erroneously regarded as a reprobate. Moral emotion on the part of the parent often brought about tbe condition he wanted to avoid. Parents should not become emotionally disturbed, and rob their children of the experience which was necessary if they were to grown into normal human beings. “Do not let a child think that everything he does is fraught with danger, for one so brought up manifests all sorts of fears in later life.” concluded Professor Hunter.

Mrs. G. R. Millward presided over a large attendance. The following gave items: Misses Nancy Martin and Luff. Messrs. A. Wakelin and Bonifant, and the league choir.