TANTRUMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17336, 6 December 1919, Page 4 (Supplement)

TANTRUMS.

Every woman knows what "tantrums" mean,, but, unfortunately, not every woman—even though she be nurse or mother' —knows what causes them, says a writer in an exchange. " Tantrums" are looked upon by the rulers in many a nursery as directly instigated by the evil one. The child who gives way to " tantrums" is driven thereto by naughtiness, and naughtiness is born of a bad disposition and of wicked temper. So, too often, says nurse. In 99 cases out of 100 she is wrong—and the " tantrums" are not born of the devil, but merely of a deranged stomach, just as are nightmares and attacks of the gout. No one would think of smacking grandpapa when his temper is fiery because an attack of gout is on the way to materialise. He is treated with more consideration than usual, that is all. But when Tommy, his grandson, has been allowed to overeat, or to stay up late night after night, or has had food put before him that is quite upsuited to his juvenile digestion, and when in consequence the outraged nerves and stomach stir up the brain to revolt against such treatment, then Tommy is supposed to be in need of smart punishment. Smacking is often a favoured form of it, a form however that never effects a radical cure. How can it? Generally it makes matters worse, for it increases general irritation. It is like applying a mustard plaster to allay a fever. A soothing dose of castor oil would be much more effective. It often cures ill-temper in a remarkable manner. The superintendent of a home for girls once told me she had often known most morose and unpleasant-tempered girls turned into quite amiable creatures merely by th* administration of a little castor oil! It may sound a paradox, but you will find it good truth in practice that the less smacking there is in a nursery the better behaved will be the children in that nureery. The headmistress of an elementary school said that she had noticed a great improvement in manners and general behaviour in the children under her charge during the last ten years. They were much more easily managed and better behaved than they used to be. She had twenty years' experience, and her scholars were of a rough class. ■» " To what do you attribute the improveintent ?" I asked. "To the lessening of punishments," she said. They are not nearly so severe now as they were formerly."