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Story
August 16, 1957
The West End News
Frederiksted, Saint Croix County, Virgin Islands
What is this article about?
Article by Ruth Millet on family happiness, based on a survey of 1,500 school children who said 'doing things together' is key. Advises parents to relax and enjoy time with children rather than seeking escapes, emphasizing shared activities over material provisions.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
Family Life
By RUTH MILLET
Parents, please note: When 1,500 school children were asked the question, "What do you think makes a happy family?" the most frequent answer was "doing things together."
In an age where the common practice in many families is for Mom and Dad to hire a baby sitter night after night so that they can get away and have a little fun, this view point needs to be considered.
Some families do not do much as a family because the parents have the mistaken notion that the only way they can relax & enjoy themselves is to get away from their children.
Other families have made a few poor attempts at doing things together as a family and given up with the weary pronouncement that it just isn't worth it.
Usually that is because those parents overlook the obvious fact that the most elaborate plans for family fun will turn into a nightmare unless the parents relax and enjoy themselves.
If Mom is worrying every minute for fear Sis will get her new dress dirty or Papa is in a "Let's get this over with" mood, and both keep after Junior not to "act silly" or "to stop wriggling," then there is no fun for anybody.
But if the parents know how to ease up and simply enjoy being with their children, it does not much matter what the family is doing together. They can be putting in a rose garden or going fishing—either work or play. It will be fun.
Anyway, it is good to hear from the children themselves that it is not what we do for our children that makes them happy nearly so much as what we do with them.
READ THIS PAPER ALWAYS
By RUTH MILLET
Parents, please note: When 1,500 school children were asked the question, "What do you think makes a happy family?" the most frequent answer was "doing things together."
In an age where the common practice in many families is for Mom and Dad to hire a baby sitter night after night so that they can get away and have a little fun, this view point needs to be considered.
Some families do not do much as a family because the parents have the mistaken notion that the only way they can relax & enjoy themselves is to get away from their children.
Other families have made a few poor attempts at doing things together as a family and given up with the weary pronouncement that it just isn't worth it.
Usually that is because those parents overlook the obvious fact that the most elaborate plans for family fun will turn into a nightmare unless the parents relax and enjoy themselves.
If Mom is worrying every minute for fear Sis will get her new dress dirty or Papa is in a "Let's get this over with" mood, and both keep after Junior not to "act silly" or "to stop wriggling," then there is no fun for anybody.
But if the parents know how to ease up and simply enjoy being with their children, it does not much matter what the family is doing together. They can be putting in a rose garden or going fishing—either work or play. It will be fun.
Anyway, it is good to hear from the children themselves that it is not what we do for our children that makes them happy nearly so much as what we do with them.
READ THIS PAPER ALWAYS
What sub-type of article is it?
Curiosity
What themes does it cover?
Family
Moral Virtue
Social Manners
What keywords are associated?
Family Happiness
Doing Things Together
Parenting Advice
Children Survey
Family Activities
What entities or persons were involved?
Ruth Millet
Story Details
Key Persons
Ruth Millet
Story Details
Survey of 1,500 children reveals 'doing things together' as key to happy family; parents urged to relax and enjoy shared activities rather than escaping children.