LITTLE MIMICS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19759, 9 April 1926, Page 15

LITTLE MIMICS.

A couple of children were placing on a pavement tho other day when a bus drew up at the kerb and several persons went to get on the vehicle. As each person walked or lan towards the bus tne children deftly imitated their mannerisms, with two exceptions. These were when a cnpple and a very old woman got on the bus—in each instance the children just stood still and watched, without making the slightest attempt to "take them off.” Which showed that, though these particular and very ordinary childien had the usual childish desire to mimic other people, they also knew something of the way in which to use their desire Tht majority ol children are born mimics. As boys ' and" girls grow older, however, their natural ins;met to mimic often leads to trouble and misunderstanding, and some of the wisest parents and guardians are sadly perplexed to know how to deal with tills tendency in youngsters under thei’ - charge. Individual ri rcuuistauoes and ehildien must be considered, as with all questions of the development of child character, hut in a general way it may ‘he accepted that entirely to check'a child’s gifts for mimicry is just as bad and harmful as to let the same gifts have full play. To lot a child mimic whom and where he or she will, and to tell everybody “how clever Donald or Katie is at taking people off,” is patently foolish Rut :o' treat mimicry as something wickeii which will be punished severely is going to the other extreme, and may create a serious stale of repletion m a child. The misunderstanding which may rise from the latter circumstances is illustrated by the incident of a little girl going to school foi the first time "Watch mo and do as T do. said her gymnastic mis"'p - tc ■ !rtl-> girl would not budge, and ultimately it came out tnat mamma had punished her for mimicry, and had told tier that stm "ever on any account imitate other people. It is difficult to sot hard and fast rules ns to what li'tle mimic.' may and f" n >’ no j do "it w'sp and tactful parents will avoid extremes The great b-oad rule is to instil into children the principle that their mimicry must never be unkind or such as will hurt other people Mimicry .aftm all. is often the old, childish game ci “pretending.” And so long as mimicry remains play, and a grownup eye is kept to check it reaching foibidden Emits, ; t is all right, and it is nbiv \vhvoh rnnv huip ronsirlorpnly when it porno? to timu. though nil people may not rpali>’' it —Home paper.