HOME ECONOMICS ASSOCIATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19200, 17 June 1924, Page 5

HOME ECONOMICS ASSOCIATION.

CHILD TRAINING. Most parents are ]>erplexed some time or most of iho lime at Iho problems in front of us in the training of our children. A little child is fair and lovely to behold. Wo would have that fairness and loveliness develop to the fineness and strength of the ideal that we cherish. Yet how difficult is the path 1 I low can we help them to avoid the mistakes we have made—how make their environment si.eh as to develop their potentialities? Fortunately we have to aid these days an increasing number of books by those who have trodden the road, studied it well, and achieved a considerable measure of what they set. out to do A recent book is “Child Training,” by Angelo Patri, published in 1222. It is a compendium ol valuable knowledge to the parent, written in a way that is so readily assimilable. Every point is embodied in a story of a family where the situation existed, and the truths are dramatised for us to seize and learn. Part one deals with the ‘‘Child in the Home,” and includes such subjects as “Dressing Himself,” “P’ceding Himself,” “Tickling,” “Something to Do,” ’ Mannerisms,” “Thou Shalt Laugh,” “Get your Breath,” “Who is Lazy.” “The Crow Ag“,” and “Selfconfidence.” The scond part is concerned with the school —child, teacher, and parent. It deals with “The .School’s dob,” “Getting Ready for School,' Ihe School Standards,” and “The Plavgrouncl.” Other parts are concerned with “Pudding the Child’s Character,” “Moral Training,” “Hoys.” "Adolescence.” Vacation lime,” “Parents,” and “The Child and Ills Country.” Below is appended one of the short chapters from "Building the Child's Character” to illustrate the pithy way in which the mailer is expressed. THREE WISHES. If yon could have three wishes for your child granted you, what woidd I hoy be? Good health. Fine character. Money enough to pay hi.s way. These are not unreasonable wishes. But what are you doing to make these wishes come true? Health. —When yon took your seven-year-old child lo the pictures .and kept him out of bed until 11 o'clock and sent him lo bod with his head filled witii battle, murder, tind sudden death with the promise of worse to come, you spoiled his night’s rest. You shocked his nervous system. That look several points from his health score. ■When yon allowed him to eat lollies until he could eat no dinner when it was served, you lowered it several points more. When he neglected to wash the sugar from his teeth before going to bod he started the decay that will lower his health score still further. No one knows what decayed teeth will cost him in money and energy. You have lo be alert to make your health wish come true. Fine Character.-—When you told your friend over the telephone that you could not keep your engagement because you were not feeling well and fhen proceeded to play cards all evening, the youngster knew that you had not told the truth. His character score went down then. He follows you. When yon did his examples for him anti allowed him to give the work to the teacher as his own his 'character score lost again. When you heard hinr promise his chum he would be over after lea to help clean the wheel and then idlownd him to accept an invitation for a motor ride without excusing himself to hi.s chum or asking his wishes in the matter you allowed him to lower his character score again. Y r ou should have insisted upon his going over lo his.ehum and asking to bo excused, or else keep his engagement. Wishing alone won’t, make things come true. You have to work for them. It is not always pleasant to train a child in the way he should go. Money.—When you give him money he should he able to tel! what he did with it. The time you handed him a shilling and never inquired what becan'ie of it you did him an injury. He should be placed on an allowance and trained to live on it. In that way he will learn the value of money. The best way to teach him its (rue value is to let him earn it. Nothing is worse for a growing boy than to be. endowed. Money that is given him without effort on his. part has no value. Its only value lies in the struggle to get it. the price we pay in terms of body and soul. The child is entitled lo this training if you want this wish to come true. Translate wishing into willing and the thing is done.