THE RIGHT SENTIMENT.

Northern Advocate, 19 December 1919, Page 1

THE RIGHT SENTIMENT.

KEEP IT ALIVE

AMONGST THE YOUNGSTERS,

Unless carefully brought up, children are apt to be rather selfish little beings. Mothers should bear this m mind and try to guard against it at all times, of course; but at the Christmas season a mother has a particularly good chance to make her little sons and daughters less selfcentred.

'■ It is perfectly natural trat children should wonder what will appear on the tree or in their stockings for them but they should also think and plan weeks beforehand for someone else. If the little folks were taught early to make their personal Christmas presents for the other members of the family, they will get a lot of pleasure out of this, as well as give pleasure to others. In many of the schools even the little kindergarten, children are taught to make presents for their parents. As Igo round before Christmas, many secrets are imparted to me, and I am always delighted to see that the usually spoiled and fretful little "Bobby" or "Dorothy" seems to have somehow entirely forgotten his or her important little self while busily sewing or hammering away at something to give father or mother. i

It is probably about the only time in the year they think of someone else before themselves, and it is the time they are the happiest.

Children should be helped to plan to save their pennies for som e time before Christmas, and with these saved-up pennies to buy the materials with which the Christmas presents are to be made. This teaches forethought an< wise pfanningf as well as unselfishness.

If there are any little tasks the children can do, by all means let them take these as their own personal "chores," and give them small weekly sums as payment. They will then be taught the value of money and the great pleasure of earning it.

The next step is to teach them how to spend wisely what they have earned, and if they have some special object, like saving up for Christmas in view, it will be pleasanter and easier for them to drop part of their little earnings in their banks. It is not wise to make the lesson too hard and make them save every penny, however. Remember that children are very little folks after all, and it is perfectly natural for them to want lots of good times; but plant the seed of unselfishness and forethought while they are very young and you will be surprised to see how fast it will grow. .

Beginning with needlebooks, penwipers, eye-glass, cleaners, bookmarks, and sachet bags, the little gifts grow in size and elaborateness as the children themselves grow older. I have a much-valued collection of little personal Christmas presents, made for me by small patients and friends. Sometimes th e stitches are so crooked, and one can see what pains were taken later to Improve, that they are quite pathetic.

One very small girl who wanted to make me something all to herself bought a number of red and blue bandanna handkerchiefs, then sowed narrow ribbon on one corner of each and gave the handkerchief to me to wrap shoes in when travelling. They are one of the most useful presents I ever had, and have lasted until the wee tot of four years who made them for me is 19 years old!

The weeks just before Christmas are also a great time for a grand clearing out °f the nursery. Nurseries and playrooms are apt to get cluttered and too full of toys and books, many of which are in perfectly good condition but lack interest to their small owners. If the mother will devote a morning to the task and take all the children with her into the playroom for a general sorting over of toys and books, it will be well worth the time spent, and will make room for th c new presents which are coming in a short time.

There will always be special favourites, such as pet dolls or animals, which will be treasured and kept year after year; but teach the children to be generous and willing to give away some of their toys that are in perfectly good condition, not only those which have become worn and broken. If possibe have the boys and girls mend up all toys and books before they give them away. It is too ha 4 to give hopelessly broken toys to children who are less fortunate than their little donors.

Le t your children go with you when their toys are given to other children in homes and hospitals; let them feel they are their personal gifts and share in the pleasure of the other children who are the receivers.

Let your children trim tiny Christmas trees for little poor and invalid children, then spare a few moments from their own fun on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day personally to take the little trees to the children for whom they are intended.

Remember, it is personal service which counts far more than any other kind, and the children will unconsciously learn the great lesson of the true Christmas spirit also,