MOTHERS’ COLUMN.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VIII, Issue 35, 29 August 1891, Page 326

MOTHERS’ COLUMN.

HINTS ABOUT TRAINING CHILDREN. A MOTHER writes: * I have repeatedly been asked; ‘What makes your boys so good? My answer is, ‘Their training.’ From the hour of their birth to the present hour I have made a constant stndy of their dispositions, and acted accordingly, never failing to correct a fanlt, or praise a virtue, and to the latter 1 attribute my success. Children are very keen, and when they find that implicit obedience is rewarded by ‘ yes ’ to any little request they may make, it wiiniot be long before they will see for themselves how much is to be gained by obedience. Every well-accom-plished task, no matter how small, should be piaised, for appreciation is as great an incentive to children as to grown people. Another all-important fact in training children is, never to break a promise to them. Keeping their respect is two-thirds of the battle. When a correction is once made it should be for all coming time, and the child made to understand this. The reputation my three boys (between six and nine years) bear in school and among their neighbours, convinces me I can say to other mothers with perfect impunity—‘ Go thou and do likewise.’—C.G.L. HOW CAN CROLP BE PREVENTED AND CURED’ WILL some of the mothers having children subject to croup, give some remedies, and what will prevent an attack ’—Anxious Mother. A correspondent says :— ‘ A teaspoonful of half glycerine, half water, will break up a case of croup in fifteen minutes. If it does not, give a second dose ; but so far, I have never needed to give the second dose. ’ Another says :—‘ I think that a child need never have the dread disease if my simple remedy is given in time, or when the first hoarse cough is heard. A teaspoonful of syrup, or common treacle, and castor oil mixed, half a teaspoonful of each. Usually the first dose will loosen the phlegm, and the little one will go to sleep quietly ; if not, follow it by the second in a short time. This has saved me many sleepless nights when my children were young.’— Dora. A VERY PRETTY LITTLE FROCK. J SAW such a dainty frock the other day,’ says a London mother, ‘so I send you a sketch of it. It was particularly suitable to an intermediate season, being moderately warm and comfortable-looking and feeling, without too much weight or heaviness of appearance. It was made of a rather light shade of terracotta coloured merino, the skirt gathered into the waist of plain bodice, over which was worn

a cape coming to the waist; the closely-fitting hood in the new fashionable style was also of terracotta merino, tied with black velvet strings, and the whole of the costume was trimmed with two narrow rolls of black astrachan about an inch and a-half apart. The general effect of this little dress was decidedly stylish, and very suitable to a child of from five to seven years.’ PUNISHING CHILDREN. rpHERE seems to be only one way for children as for their 1 elders to learn obedience— ‘ by the things which they suffer.’ But their sufferings should be strictly apportioned to their offences. Sometimes a whipping—stopping far short of cruelty—is the best punishment, the greatest kindness. The short pain, soon over, teaches a lesson to a child—too young to be reasoned with —that it never forgets. With older children corporal punishment should be reserved for aggravated cases of cruelty or falsehood. The parent who flies to the rod to correct every trifling fault or misdemeanour, will have no influence with her children when they are too old to be governed by force. A child should never be struck in anger. A box on the ear may rupture the membrane that forms the drum, and cause permanent deafness. A hasty blow may do mischief that years of repentance cannot undo. Punishment is for discipline, not for revenge. It is to teach the child to avoid evil and to do right. It never should be a vent for the angry passions of the mother. Love, patience and firmness are the instruments she must use to mould her child’s character. Punishment is a means to an end ; let her pray for grace to use it wisely.