They ceuld and should be allowed
to do for more than the average
child Is allowed to do. Most of the
nagging and scolding which falls to
the lot of the child is useless because
the mother won’t take time to think
about the child’s request, or being in
a hurry and nervous, says no for no
reason at all. Admit It, mothers.
When you are In good humor and
rested the children always seem good.
When you are tired and nervous they
are little demons-. Why? Because,
In the first place, nothing they ask
to do seems impossible and so the
day sails on with no rough flvaves
and breakers —but w’hen you want
things to run smoothly, you refuse
every request, every plea to do
this or thal#-*nd the children, af
fected by your mood and their im
prisonment, get Into every sort of
mischief.
The small baby beginning to
crawl can be kept out of mischief
and danger In a play pen, which can
be as ornate as one pleases. I have
seen them screened in like tiny houses
—or they can be four boards, planed
smooth so as not to offer splinters
for tiny hands, and competently bolt
ed at the corners. They can be made
to fold so that they can be carried
from room to-room and out of doors.
Why scold and slap and spank when
so simple an expedient removes almost
every cause for irritation when the
child is too young to be reasoned with.
