You and Your Child

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 26 January 1939, Page 2

You and Your Child

Tot's Longings Often Need Re-Direction By JANE HERBERT GOWARO Little Helen asked for three things as her mother stood at the countei ordering groceries. Her first request, “1 want a banana,” was spoken wher mother herself was talking. It wen' unanswered. So Helen’s gaze immedi ately was drawn to gum drops. “I wan' lollies,” she demanded. This tim< mother told her firmly that she coulc not have any. Little Helen started whimpering. *‘! want lollies, mother. Why can’t I have lollies? ’ “It will spoil your appetite for lunch. Stop crying.” Meanwhile Helen came face to face with the cracker shelves. A whole menagerie of animal crackers housed in an attrac-

tive box now caught her fancy. Brightj ening, she tugged at mother's sleeves. “Then can I have those?” she asked. Mother softened. She did not like to say no to her little girl all the time. “Remember these are not to be eaten before lunch,” she instructed, handing Helen the box. But the temptation proved too great. Thinking she woaid cat only one, Helen dispbsed of five or six crackers before mother saw what was happening and took the box away. The habit of “wanting” things in strange surroundings is common to most little children. This apparently is the infantile way of making observations and showing one is alive to discovery. Self-centred and possessive, the tot is unable to appreciate anything without wanting to make it his. Therefore, if parents don’t want a child to have something, they must try talking him out of it. Assure him, “You don’t want that. We have better cake at home.” Or explain, “Your bubble pipe is much better than that balloon.” But don’t ever tell a child not to want things or “You can’t have it,” as that will increase his desire for it and make him more insistent.