Show Disobedience Often Sign o of I i Forgetfulness IMPULSIVE ACTS OF Or child are made without thought either cither of being obedient obedient obedi obedi- I ent or disobedient Help in remembering often much more necessary than an any y yf f form orm of punishment I By GEORGIA LOTT OH OH WHY need children be quite so heedless and disobedient sighed Mary Lance wearily I 1 wonder if they really are answered answered answered an an- her neighbor Mrs Jaynes comfortably They behave as they do because they are children They usually act on impulse without any thought either of being obedient or disobedient You must expect such conduct until they begin to acquire the knowledge that experience brings I 1 am convinced that children need real help in remembering much more frequently than they need punishment This belief is based partly on my own to never-to-be- forgotten childish experience with a detested red apron My aunt with whom I 1 lived made me a big red apron from one of her old house dresses and said Lucy you are to put this apron on over your school dress each morning until your work is done I had no objection to that but several times each week I rushed heedlessly away to school flaunting the aprons apron's faded ugliness for all to see My aunt always sent senta a message by an older girl who was our neighbor reminding me to remove the apron And no reproof was ever considered complete until these episodes of the red apron were held up to me as evidence of my disobedience Ive never forgotten the unhappiness ness and embarrassment they in in- Yet how easily my aunt might have prevented them She could have said C Always come to tome tome tome me before you start to school to be sure you look nice Or Always kiss me good-by good Lucy My lo love hungry little heart would never have allowed allowed allowed al al- al- al lowed me to forget to do that you may be sure And there would have been no hurting apron episode But Henrys Henry's case is different said Mrs Lance He is a boy and should learn to take responsibility Yet he never remembers his chores or his errands Appreciation Lightens Labor He just needs the help of a little reminder insisted Mrs Jaynes Suppose you mention it casually before his father each time he does his work well and without being reminded reminded reminded re re- re- re minded Even we older folks find that appreciation lightens labor Try to make work pleasant Never Nev Nev- er use it as a punishment Let work lead naturally to suitable suitable suitable suit suit- able rewards If Henry helps you with the dishes and tidies the house it would be quite evident that you would have more time Perhaps you could both go to the movies or for a ride When he has learned to prepare food he can have picnics and parties If he keeps his room in order let him know how restful you find it when you go in to spend a afew afew afew few moments with him If he takes good care of his clothes brushing them and hanging them up neatly he would be happy indeed if Mother should buy for Father and him two articles just alike If Henry is apt to forget his duties duties duties du du- ties do not credit it to disobedience ence but study how you may make it interesting and profitable for him to remember Children dread to work alone so make his duties so far as you reasonably can something something some some- thing that you can share Do not expect results beyond the ability of his years Praise him when he does well Reward him in in a natural and sensible way Help him remember for he honestly needs your help And presently you will have the satisfaction of seeing that he has acquired acquired acquired ac ac- ac- ac the habit of reliability and accepts work as a pleasant and necessary part of normal living National Kindergarten Association Service |