THE SCHOOL HOLIDAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19511, 15 December 1926, Page 9

THE SCHOOL HOLIDAY.

In dealing with children homo for the holidays many people do not seem to realise what a complete change homo lif♦ is aftor tho ordered Activity of school. Parents often ct>m«i3in tfc»t their children are mischievous cr tiresomeiy exacting What they do not realise is * that ika children are missing, unconsciously perhaps, iho ordered days of term time when they had an allotted time for all work and play. Few children can take a prolonged interest in anything unless they have someone with them to stimulate that interest. Pets, gardens, hobbies, all lose their thrall unless there is'ari audience. This does not mean that children do things for effect, far from it; but the child, like the man, does appreciate a listener, someone, anyone, who is also taking an interest in the work or play of the moment. AH this applies particularly to the only child, but to a largo extent t,o children in general. The only child is, of necessity, dependent on outsiders for companionship unless, and hsre is the crux of the whole affair, his parents will take the trouble to make themselves his companions for the few weeks of tho holidays. Tho mere fact of going about, with him is not enough; there must-be companionship of mind as well as of body. The parent must put his mind into relationship with tho child's mind and enter into his ideals and enthusiasms. Even where there are several in a family this applies, for, to children, tho approval of a grown-up means much, and the open, interested discussion of a project even more. In the busy life that most of us lead to-day lit is difficult, if not impossible, to give up to tho children the whole holidays, but somehow or other tho holidays should be made a time for getting mto closer touch with the child's mind, jf tho parents go about their work and amusements irrespective of the child or children they are bound to lose touch, and, as the children grow older, uliey will instinctively seek their amusements elsewhere. Home must be made a jlico" where the children of to-day are :in-self-conscious and yet eelf-controlted, never bored and yet not artificially amused. It is useless to expect mature minds in children, but what chance have they of learning to think and to discriminate if they have no companionship with grown people who have movid about tho world ?