720 TRAINING OF CHILDREN. 



found none so efficacious as the utter ignoring of the fit by all 

 the family. Let the 'child kick and scream. If it finds that no one 

 seems to care at all, that it does not even receive a reproof of any kind, 

 it soon becomes ashamed. A very few results of this kind will break 

 up the worst fits of temper ever known. Try it. 



Injurious Effect of Threatening a Child. Among the most 

 serious mistakes made by parents is the very easy error of threatening 

 the child with this or that consequence, if they do so and so, and then 

 seldom or never carrying out the threat. We have known parents 

 who issued threats upon threats and finally exclaimed, " Now, if you 

 do that again I will whip you," and even then upon the child's doing 

 again the same offense but in a milder fashion, neither whip nor other- 

 wise punish the child. When we know the child's imitative nature 

 and his aptitude to follow example, we can understand how fearfully 

 injurious such threats must be. They not only serve to seriously 

 lessen the child's respect for, and bye and bye love for its parent, but 

 teach it to have disregard for the truth. They teach it slovenly habits 

 of thought and careless manners; for where respect for law is lessened 

 respect for order decreases. 



Another grievous error is that of promising a child certain things 

 for the future and then either forgetting the promise or changing 

 one's mind. A parent has no right to do either, as he has no right to 

 teach his child lying. A promise to a child should never be lightly 

 given, but when given should be considered just as binding as a 

 financial obligation at the bank. 



How to Control a Spirit of Mischief. Mischievous children 

 are by no means scarce, especially in the cities, and they cause their 

 parents much grief and trouble. As a general thing mischief is a 

 sign of an active mind that is not given as much occupation as its 

 natural instincts demand. While many parents deplore such a spirit 

 in their children they would, if they were wise, feel thankful for it, 

 and immediately begin to study how best to turn that child's unusual 

 activities into a useful channel. We know of several instances where 

 exceedingly mischievous boys, who were the terror of the neighbor- 

 hood, and caused their parents much worry and no little expense in 

 paying for destructive pranks, have been entirely cured by giving 

 them a gymnasium outfit and a room in the barn where they could 

 invite their fellows to practice with the implements provided. In 

 other cases cures were effected by securing them employment where 

 they earned wages, either at home or with a neighbor or in some store, 

 office, or other place, as errand boy, messenger or something the child 

 was old enough to perform. If still attending school, some work like 

 delivering papers or making gardens, or shoveling snow, anything 

 that was useful work and for which they received definite pay for their 

 own use. 



How to Overcome Fear in a Child. Some children are 

 troubled desperately by fear. They are afraid of the dark and of a 

 hundred other things, and this fear not only causes them much need- 



