"CHILD PSYCHOLOGY"

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 35, 10 August 1934, Page 15

"CHILD PSYCHOLOGY"

AN INFORMATIVE TALK

FREE KINDERGARTENS

There was a largo gathering of interested people at tho. Taranaki. Street Kindergarten last evening, when Mrs. Gronfell gave a delightful talk about "Child Psychology," as understood by kindergarteners. She was introduced by Mrs. Doctor (president), who remarked on the pleasure which good attendance gave, and the fact that the enthusiasm of all who had anything to do with kindergartens augured well for the progress of the world in the future.

Mrs. Grcmfell said that the daily prob)(.j)>s of sLiidonts were meeting and dealing with those of childhood. The most recognised of these concerned the profjdiool child, an.d she: shdwed, that the ages of from two to.five years were of the utmost importance in building up of happy and successful character. The books of the time helped.tho students to an excellent and valuable fund of knowledge, but it' was also the daily experience and study of numbers of forms of nature and character which built up the. successful work'or. There was no "royal road," but experience and time, given painstakingly and steadily, upbuilt success. '. Environment, it had been decided by such child students as Froebel and Montessori, was of the utmost importance to infants and the little preschool ones, and the newer movement outside all regular education —-the nursoy school movement- —had taken up this branch of work in the making of good citizens for the future. This began during the war period and in crowded parts "of London, and was in a way accidentally beguu because of the necessities of the time, but it was found to be so admirable in the way of training the little ones in habits and ideas that tte movement spread in the United Kingdom and was taken up with enthusiasm in America. ■ However this latter country made a mistake in "departmentalism;?'? children and not taking them sufficiently as individuals. CURRENT PROBLEMS. Among the current problems were those of -environment—what made the best possible? How to form the best habits most surely and lastingly? How best to get the little ones to adjust themselves to their environment, and above all, how to get them to act spontaneously and to be happy, progressive children" . ' A very common mistake (unfortunately) made" by quite a large number of people who did not fully understand the principles of kindergarten was that the kindergartens simply relieved parents of responsibility they ought to take for themselves. This was not the case at all, and parents were helped to do their work. more effectively and

.truly, for very often grave mistakes were made, not from want of affection, but from want of the knowledge' that the kindergarten teachers and students had gained by a wido experience among all sorts and conditions of children as well as from the study of world niethods, resulting from scientific survey. The work in the schools had shown definitely that the homes had not done the work of upbringing successfully at all, or as well as they might, in a number of directions. The immense importance of the earliest years was emphasised, and the opinion of some of tho best child experts quoted as saying that by the end of the second year the important characteristics were settled. The habit clinics had been found to be of great importance'to the children emotionally, mentally, and physically, for the workers had come 'to believe that by the end Of the second 'year the "pattern of life" was laid down. In speaking of treatment, Mrs. Gronfell said: "Do not' yield, ■ but do not punish, and rely largely on the power of suggestion when .difficulties arise."She spoke sympatheticaly >: of• tho want of time and opportunity which occur in homos where the mother is overweighted with work and anxiety to make ends meet, and urged ,tho necessity of sending . the little ones where they would receive experienced care, good mental .'and physical training, and skilled help in their,difficulties of temperament and nature. They got companionship of their own age, which was so valuable to them, and space for play. . -•.-.:. MISTAKES MADE. Mrs. Grenfell dealt interestingly with the common mistakes made with the little ones, and spoke of the dominating type of mother who destroyed initiative or else continually raised opposition; the emotional type, which deliberately prolonged childhood in, order to keep the children dependent; and the nervy type, which had not self or tern -: per control, and the child suffered accordingly. The kindergartens provided relief for all these from the strain, and the way was made easier and bapv pier for both. "It is not goed. for mothers and children to be alone together for every 24 hours," said Mrs. Grenfell, and there was a murmur of agreement round the room. She then told of the methods of training students, which inelud* the understanding .of the children from all points of view..' Cordial thanks were accorded to the speaker for a most useful address.