Child Study Laboratory, Vassar College 



HAVING FUN 



For the young child all experience, oil 

 action, all sensation, may yield satisfac- 

 tion and pleasure. It is only later that 

 his play or fun takes on the form of 

 games, or of activities that have a pur- 

 pose. It is fun to be alive and to feel the 

 touch of the world as it strikes us — not 

 too hard, of course — and as we Impress 

 ourselves upon it 



LET GO! 



Anything that interferes with our free 

 movements arouses anger. Learning to 

 control our anger may mean learning to 

 sense the difference between important 

 situations and those that do not matter. 

 But it may also mean letting others dic- 

 tate our way of living, always hating 

 them for it, but afraid always to show our 

 resentment 



producing any pain whatever, is enough to make him very angry. Free, 

 spontaneous, satisfying activity, and healthy, vigorous, smooth working of 

 the internal organs — such are the bases for the joy of living. Restraint, co- 

 ercion, frustration in action, or flabby, inharmonious, or perhaps even pain- 

 ful working of the organs — such are the bases of sorrow, distress, and disgust 

 with life. 



Many people belittle our moods or emotions as being "only states of 

 mind". But these states of mind are the very substance of what we value 

 in life, as they are the drives that make our lives go on. 



We must not expect a particular emotion for each natural act or impulse. 

 Moreover, our natural responses become conditioned. We acquire particular 

 tastes and aversions through our experiences. We respond one way to per- 



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