CHILD PSYCHOLOGY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16875, 28 October 1922, Page 15

CHILD PSY CHOLOGY.

Do you want your child to be truthful- Then neve:- inculcate into it the sense of fear. It is tear that makes rr wards of us all, whether we be in the nursery, or grown-ups who ought to KiiOii better. The child who has fear of punishment in his soul will instinctively tell an untruth in order to escape* from retribution, but the child vbo is certain of being met with understanding in its misdemeanour will »•< inclined, to “ toll the truth and timmo the devil.” A lecturer on psychology recently entertained her audience by remarking that the whole tradition that has •. rown up around George Washington m radically unsound. George should have told the truth about the apple tree without feeling that- in doing so be was performing a particularly commendable action. It should have been the natural thing for him to do, and have aroused no wonder. Perhaps his parents had brought him up on the wi on" lines and put “the tear of the ..ord ’ into him. instead of plenty of love and sympathy. The modern policy of talking things cut with an erring child is a far bett« r .me than the old-fashioned method ol intimidation. Those who -were edu*ated oil the latter plan hare had. in h’ler years, to learn on their own account to love truth, for its intrinsic sake. The early training was all against it. -