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Show I t's only natural for ' playmates are her cocker parents to want their children to be popular. Father cays proudly that "Billy has a gang cf kids around the house morning, nocn, end night" But the statement that "Mary likes to play by herself is made apelecetleally, and "I wieh Johnny didn't have such a hard time making friends' Ilany yeureters are not highly popular, and their parents vcrry about why they prefer to play alcne. Should Johnny's pe.rcr.t3 try to help him make friends? Or should they let him do as he pleases, telling him that society has a ple.ee for the "lone wolf' as vcll as the "personality kid"? Playing by himself may help cr hinder the growth of Jchnny's personality. It- all depends cn how he spends his time and how he feels about being alcne. You have to look at Johnny's entire personality before you can decide whether he likes to be alone or Js - really lonely. For example, let's look at Karen and Anita. ' Karen Olmquist is a gentle, She is afshy nine-year-o- ld. fectionate and cheery with her parents and other grownups the knows well. Her favorite spaniel and her doll house and collection of dolls. Only occasionally does she bring home a girl friend or go to a movie with a classmate. Karen is amiable with her brothfive- - and ers but doesn't care, for the tomboy play of the other girls in the neighborhood. She enjoys tasks she can carry out on her own, such as prepar-.- .. ing Saturday lunch or a cold supper for the family, Karen's . teacher told Mrs. Olmquist, "The. other children like Karen, but whenever possible, she" prefers to "work alone rather than in a group. She's a good worker, too." Mr. Olmquist of ten asks his wife, "7hy doesn't Karen join the Brownies? It doesn't seem right for her to be alone so much or so quiet Just once I'd like to hear her shout and race around the house!". Kirs. Olmquist, who is rather quiet herself, feels there's no need to worry. "I wasn't a tomboy, either, and I seem to . have managed all right Sometimes I think a child can be just as happy by herself as in a crowd." Child specialists would agree ' with Kirs. Olmquist Karen seems to have as much com- - panionship as she wants and doesn't appear to be lonely. g, ner it sne were dislike of group activities might bear investigation. Or if she spent all her time glued to the radio or. TV set, it would be wise to make her play with other children. But Karen's preference for being alone is balanced by plenty of ld happy, useful activity. Why push her into situations where she would mgn-sirun- r six-year-- old ' nine-year-o- be. ill at ease?- - L,-- . Parents and teachers, of course, should offer Karen a 1 l unance to participate in cuius . ..... nnri rnmmittip nnri tn wnrlr and play with other children. Her parents should try to convince her that she is a likable person and avoid making her feel odd. The special qualities of the Karens among our children may be appreciated more when they are older and more mature. The story of Anita, a plump and fiery is different Anita quickly loses her temper if anyone' disagrees with her or makes a remark she considers stupid. Anita is the youngest and best student in her eighth grade a whiz at arithmetic but a flop at making friends. Anita tries to hide her lone- A . 'J , A 12-year-- v The youngster who enjoys solitude is not necessarily unhappy. It may 1 old, perfectly natural for your youngster to want to play by himself or it may be a cause for serious concern. to a r be world of passiveness and fantasies. L roc v - V A LiWllT ill Iz'r.i itcrcd by climates often points to a problem hn ci.d that will be within aggravated if the isolation continues. Family Wetkly Magazine, May 20, tSSS i Creative play should be encouraged in quiet children to bring out their best qualities. |
