Show Your Baby and Mine By MYRTLE MEYER ELDRED YOUR YOUE LITTLE RUNAWAY NEEDS MORE FREEDOM FREEDO I There are arc some children who never run away and some who seem born with the wanderlust But whether the he childs child's nature be timid or bold the hc more closely we pen him In the themore themore themore more apt he Is to run away when the chance presents itself Running away is a dangerous busine business busi bust ne ness s. s and we can understand the mothers mother's frantic emotions when she thinks of all the dangers which may attack her small helpless child But Buther Buther her awareness of such dangers makes its essential that the mother try to prevent running away instead of relying re re- lying upon terrifying warnings followed followed followed fol fol- fol- fol lowed by punishment when the child docs does heed the urge to wander The greatest danger is to put ones one's faith in punishment which over and over again proves valueless Why do children run away Often because they have no companionship at home Down the block there may maybe maybe maybe be two or three children with whom free from the maternal eye ere on one could have a riotous time The mothers mother's sternly forbidding words the more uncomfortable punishments may deter de dc for nt but Ineffective in ineffective ineffective in- in ter the mom moment they are effective in the face of the greater joy to be experienced if one braves the warnings and runs away very fast THE TOE REMEDY RE The remedy isn't hard to find Provide Provide Provide Pro Pro- vide the com companionship at home Encourage Encourage En En- courage children to come and pla play and make their play pleasant by giving giving ing big them plenty of play material Go Goto Goto Goto to the mother of oC the children down the block and ask her 1 if she will see that no harm comes to your small child If occasionally he Is allowed to play in her yard ard Take a similar re responsibility responsibility se- se when her children are arc with you Its It's easier to threaten the child and hope hell he'll stay home but the desire for companionship is stronger than words or punishments so make yourself an understanding mother and offer the child chUd no excuse excuse ex ex- cuse for running away If there are no neighborhood children children children chil chil- dren and far fields continue to at attract attract at- at tract take the child out oftener Some mothers spend all day at housework housework house house- work vork and send their children out to play with the warning not to leave leav the yard Those mothers are blind to the childs child's need for change of scene and for the attractions of or the un un- un- un familiar Wh Why make it necessary for I him to run away to get it Give it to him as part of or his privilege DAILY WALK VALK I Take the child out walking once dally daily Say Which Way would you like to go so and let Jet the child take the direction that pleases him with the mother as an agreeable companion not a commander nor a grumpy tyrant ty ty- ty- ty rant If It he Is old enough let him take care of oC the mother at the street corners Let him hold her hand and lead ead her across after having carefully care- care fully ully looked in each direction to be sure the way is clear Let Iet her point out his own corner and ind other familiar corn corners rs until he helas has las learned to recognize his own neighborhood Hell He'll learn that but slowly if it he Is constantly led around If we give gie him an opportunity to togo togo togo go away from home to show his in independence independence independence in- in dependence and build up new knowledge knowledge knowl knowl- edge by experience we satisfy th that lt desire for independent action which is so powerful a factor In driving the child chUd to run away By such methods we ve have forestalled his desire He wont won't have to run away to experience ence companionship or an art exhilarating ing sense of freedom We provide them gladly S Tomorrow Standardized Rations for Best Bab Baby |