“YOUTH.”

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 304, 21 November 1935, Page 15

“YOUTH.”

ADDRESS TO MOTHERS. The November meeting of All Saints’ branch of the Mothers’ Union was held m the Parish Hall yesterday afternoon, when the speaker was Miss P. Hindle, the Y.W.C.A., her subject IK2mg loath.” Miss Hindle, whose position specially qualifies her to speak on the subject, held tho interest of her ■ audience throughout. V l6 s °ryice was held in the Lady Chapel prior to the meeting, and was conducted by Canon G. Y. Woodward, who also presided during the opening of the meeting. Her purpose, said Miss Hindle, was to deal with the nature, needs, and contribution to home and country of youth. Up to three years or more the child passed through an introvert period and was at this time busy learning movements. Ail extrovert period, during which the child was interested in achieving things, and such instincts as the constructive and inquisitive were being developed, took place between the ages of three and 11 years. From 12 to 14 years there was another introvert period, when the child was realising she was an individual and was developing physically. During adolescence, an introvert period up to 17 years, three important crises were taking place, physical, mental and emotional.

Continuing, Miss Hindle said it must be realised that a child was a body, mind and soul, and all these three needed development if the type of girlhood every mother wished to see was to be developed. The mind, or intellect, had been described as an “inborn, allround mental efficiency,” and the motherts task was to direct this so that it would help to form and mould personality and character in the right direction. They all realised how strong a part instinct played in their lives, and the instincts of a child also needed direction. Curiosity, for example, was a very live instinct in girls and boys, and parents should be sympathetic when questions were asked, and put the child in the way of good books. A mother was responsible for the first moral standards of a child. Tho speaker stressed the importance of this. Dealing in particular with later adolescence, Miss Hindle pointed out how tho encouragement of right habits and the use of suggestion could prove a definite help to the parent and teacher in the development of the child. Since the child at this time was absorbing the atmosphere of the home and school, the moral standard of these should ho based on self-respect and honour. A child must get and give love in order to express the strongest of all instincts which was awakening during adolescence, the creative and maternal instinct. An emotion should be a stimulus to action and should not be repressed; it should he a servant and not a master. To live by a code was tlie only way they could live happily and harmoniously. Home training was very important; the child also needed companions to broaden her interest, the realisation that she was needed, a mother’s belief to give her a sense of security, and an early training. What was the contribution of youth to home and country? asked Miss Hindle, in conclusion. It was a freshness of outlook, a marvellous hopefulness and belief in people, enthusiasm, gaiety and a keenness to become a real and vital part of the community. The vote of thanks was proposed by Mrs G. l r . Woodward, and warmly carried. Vocal solos contributed by Miss N. Sutherland were appreciated, the acoompaniste being Mrs A. J. Hunt. Miss T. Bovis entertained with elocutionary items.

Mrs Briden-Jones reported on the recent meeting of tho Manawatu branch of the National Council of Women.

Mesdames T. Finch and ,E. A. Taylor were elected to represent the branch at the Interdenominational Day of Prayer to be held in February. An explanation of the Y.W.C.A. holiday scheme was made by Miss Hindle, and a report of a recent meeting of the Dominion council read by the secretary (Mrs Metcalfe). Hostesses who served (afternoon tea were Mesdames J. Renwick, A. Rush and E. A. Taylor (convener).