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Story
October 15, 1941
Mcallen Daily Press
Mcallen, Hidalgo County, Texas
What is this article about?
A mother wisely handles her son Stephen's mistake of tracking mud into the kitchen by asking for an explanation, allowing him to finish a trade with friend Bob, then supervising cleanup, emphasizing child training through understanding and correction to build responsibility.
Clipping
OCR Quality
100%
Excellent
Full Text
GIVE BOY CHANCE TO EXPLAIN HIS MISBEHAVIOR
By JANE HERBERT GOWARD
Mother called Stephen in to look at the mud which he had tracked into the kitchen.
There was a scraper on the back porch which he had been taught to use in very bad weather, and she could have scolded him for neglecting to use it. Instead, she simply asked, "How did this happen?"
Blushing with a sense of guilt, the youngster explained truthfully, "I forgot to use the scraper." "You seem to have been in a great hurry, Stephen. What was it all about?" mother prompted further.
"Bob's giving me a stamp for my collection if I let him read this aviation magazine."
"Well, that's pretty important," mother remarked understandingly. "and I guess you'll want to attend to it before cleaning up these mud tracks." "I'll be right back," the boy called gratefully, as he dashed out to close the business deal with his friend. He returned promptly, and under mother's careful supervision made an A-1 job of cleaning of the kitchen linoleum. For this he was complimented and he beamed pridefully.
The next time Stephen is in a hurry and has mud on his shoes he is not likely to overlook cleaning them before entering the house.
The mother's intelligent handling of the situation is based upon two important aims of child training. (1) To ask the child to explain his behavior instead of jumping to the conclusion that the misdeed was perpetrated with malice aforethought. Many childish mistakes, after all, are the result of thoughtlessness or accident. If he says, "I don't know," when you ask him why he did something, put questions to him that will help him search out the reason and understand his mistake.
(2) To give the child a chance to correct his mistakes wherever possible. In this there is more realistic proof of the exact nature of his error than there ever could be in scolding or punishing. Mud on the floor actually is a nuisance, when you have to clean it up yourself. But where mother scolds as she cleans it up for you, you must conclude that she is making a mountain out of a molehill. "How that woman can exaggerate," you'll think.
Giving a child a chance to make good when he errs will teach him a sense of responsibility and builds character. Also, in supervising the child who is making such amends, the mother has a wonderful opportunity to teach many useful skills.
By JANE HERBERT GOWARD
Mother called Stephen in to look at the mud which he had tracked into the kitchen.
There was a scraper on the back porch which he had been taught to use in very bad weather, and she could have scolded him for neglecting to use it. Instead, she simply asked, "How did this happen?"
Blushing with a sense of guilt, the youngster explained truthfully, "I forgot to use the scraper." "You seem to have been in a great hurry, Stephen. What was it all about?" mother prompted further.
"Bob's giving me a stamp for my collection if I let him read this aviation magazine."
"Well, that's pretty important," mother remarked understandingly. "and I guess you'll want to attend to it before cleaning up these mud tracks." "I'll be right back," the boy called gratefully, as he dashed out to close the business deal with his friend. He returned promptly, and under mother's careful supervision made an A-1 job of cleaning of the kitchen linoleum. For this he was complimented and he beamed pridefully.
The next time Stephen is in a hurry and has mud on his shoes he is not likely to overlook cleaning them before entering the house.
The mother's intelligent handling of the situation is based upon two important aims of child training. (1) To ask the child to explain his behavior instead of jumping to the conclusion that the misdeed was perpetrated with malice aforethought. Many childish mistakes, after all, are the result of thoughtlessness or accident. If he says, "I don't know," when you ask him why he did something, put questions to him that will help him search out the reason and understand his mistake.
(2) To give the child a chance to correct his mistakes wherever possible. In this there is more realistic proof of the exact nature of his error than there ever could be in scolding or punishing. Mud on the floor actually is a nuisance, when you have to clean it up yourself. But where mother scolds as she cleans it up for you, you must conclude that she is making a mountain out of a molehill. "How that woman can exaggerate," you'll think.
Giving a child a chance to make good when he errs will teach him a sense of responsibility and builds character. Also, in supervising the child who is making such amends, the mother has a wonderful opportunity to teach many useful skills.
What sub-type of article is it?
Family Drama
Biography
What themes does it cover?
Family
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Child Training
Parenting Advice
Responsibility
Family Lesson
Mud Tracks
What entities or persons were involved?
Stephen
Mother
Bob
Where did it happen?
Kitchen
Story Details
Key Persons
Stephen
Mother
Bob
Location
Kitchen
Story Details
Mother questions son Stephen about tracking mud into the kitchen instead of scolding; he explains forgetting the scraper due to hurrying for a stamp trade with Bob; she allows him to complete the trade then supervises cleaning, teaching responsibility through correction rather than punishment.