The Nonpartisan Leader Newspaper, February 25, 1918, Page 9

Ao - *ily 5 Ty F & 3 T HE FARM WOMAN’S PAGE Train Child By Respecting His Rights The Babe Needs Unrepressed Exercise and Later Development Calls for Guidance Instead of Compulsion ODERN ideas in regard to child-training lay stress " upon adhering from the be- ginning to certain set times for feeding, sleeping, bathing and air- ing, for regular habits lay the foun- dation of moral teaching. They are also a boon to the mother, resting her nerves and giving her time to herself, which in turn again acts to the benefit of the child. After physical needs have been provided for, all the average normal child needs is to be let alone. Many babies aye constantly over-stimulated by mothers who adore them. It takes a wise and unselfish mother to keep her baby quiet systematically, and relegate him to a “warm, safe, happy background.” Physicians agree that infants under the age of 6 months should never be Dplayed with, or needlessly handled or caressed, and though it may be the dearest Qelight to rock and coddle the new infant, and to watch his sweet ways, the wise mother will place him comfortably in crib or carriage, and let him go to sleep by himself, prefer- ably in the open air. - Babies treated in this sane, unselfish fashion seldom cry except for some good reason. Self- control and self-reliance seem big words to apply to infant education, but these virtues have their founda- tion in earliest childhood. The child’s wonderful mysterious little person- ality must have time to develop itself, and growth and strength come “in the silence.” DO NOT REPRESS CHILD'S ACTIVITIES One of the first problems which confronts the mother is the unceasing activity of her small children. From Mrs. Fred Wold, of Kutch, Colo., who wrote one of the splendid letters that won honorable mention in the Leader’s recent contest for farm women. Théy told what the League means to them. . the moment they can creep, they are ‘“doing something” every minute of the day. We simply cannot bid these restless creatures Keep still, for ac- tivity is the law of growth. Instead, we must learn to keep them busily and happily employed, and to substi- tute right activities for wrong ones. Constant repression makes a restless and unhappy child. We must learn to recognize abundant energy as good, and to turn it into right chan- nels. Bad and mischievous children are simply the results of negative methods. It is not enough to say, “Run away and play,” but a definite occupation should be suggested. The positive upbuilding method is to say, “Do this,” instead of ‘“Don’t do that,” and if one form of employment must be taken away, something else should be suggested. A recent Italian educator has de- clared that unnecessary restriction in a child’s life is a crime. There must be rules, of course, and children must learn to obey, but much friction can be eliminated by avoiding unneces- sary commands. There should be few rules, but these should be firmly ad- hered to. It is infinitely better not to give a command than to let a child evade it. The habit of teasing for a thing will never develop, if this course is faithfully followed. brought up without rules or system are restless and unhappy, but, on the other hand, a blind obedience should not be insisted upon too long. The child can begin very early to reason for himself in small things. Later the moral fiber must be developed which will enable him tn choose to do the right thing because it is right, and to recognize and obey the still small voice within himself. A desire for right conduct must be awakened. The will does not begin to grow until a definite choice can be made. Strong wills are good, and a parent has no more right to break a child’s will than to break his arm or leg. Be sure that your request is just, and when- ~ever possible avoid a clash of wills. Forced obedience or obedience gained League Gospel Is for Women Colorado Farmer’s Wife in Contest Letter Welcomes Its Program for Home and Children This is -another ,of the letters - written by farm women in the Leader contest that closed before Christmas. Hundreds of women all over the West wrote in this contest, answering the question: “What does the Nonpartisan league mean to you?” Mrs. Wold was one of .12 who won honor- able mention.— THE EDITOR. BY MRS. FRED WOLD Kutch, Colo. DITOR Nonpartisan Leader: Some years ago I read where the big man at Washington was going to send out a com- mission to learn what it could of the life of the average farm woman, and devise a method by which her lot might be bettered. What real good that commission did, I know not, for I still have to rise at daybreak and work until long after the setting of the sun. I still sell the eggs I long to use to help with the farm expenses; we use the skimmed milk ‘that the cream may go to pay the grocer. I am still wearing patched clothes, and my family has not the comforts I so much want for them. To say that the average farm ‘woman is cynical where commissions ‘are concerned is to put it lightly. indeed. Then, one morning, a little more than a year ago, I awoke to find a new Cause had been born—minus commission. The papers were full of what the farmers did in North Dakota on the memorable day in November, 1916, and we, here in Colorado, read the glad news eagerly. O, yes, farm women can and do read with a keen insight and understanding that would, surprise their club-educated city sisters. With - thousands of other farm women I read the story of the Non- partisan league and what it had ac- complished in old Trust-land, North Dakota. I was interested at once in this movement that was doctoring the cause, not plastering the effect. I found it would benefit not only the farmer, but all who worked at honest labor. For years I had seen the ,wasteful method used in manufacturing and distributing farm products. I had noticed the price paid for cream, wheat, hogs and cattle at the home market, and the price of butter, flour, meat. The difference was appalling. I felt that there must be a better way by which farm products could be made into the finished product, and I saw where the League was right when -t said the people were the ones to establish this way, by state owned flour mills, packing plants and all the other good things by which the farmer would be benefited. I knew, O so well—and what farm woman doesn’t?—what it means to pay interest often as high as 10 per cent. I saw what a state owned rural credit system would mean. Then, as though it were a film being unrolled. before me, I saw it all-—a new day for myself and the women of my class; a fair price for the necessities of life and fair returns for my labor; more leisure in which to develop and grow and make the most of the stuff that was in me, mentally, spiritually and physically. schools for the children, where they could have the advantages of the good things of life to help them de- velop into the men and women the Creator intended them to be. I saw an end to monopoly, greed and a large per cent of crime. It meant for me ‘and mine a more wholesome, upright community life. Therefore, the gospel of the Non- partisan league is my gospel, and the gospel of every woman who thinks. PAGE NINE Children’ 1 saw better rural ' through fear, weakens the child’s will power and fosters cowardice and deceit. INSTINCT OF OWNERSHIP IS MANIFESTED EARLY One of the first marked traits a child develops as soon as he is able to play with others is wanting to have things for his very own. He quickly learns the “mine” and “thine” of things and especially the ‘“mine.” It is my book, my rattle, my ball, and great is the uproar when he is re- quested- to share his property rights with another. At this stage young mothers are often given to discour- agement and make such remarks as “I do not know what I shall do with my boy. I fear he has an extremely selfish disposition. He refuses to let any other child so much as touch any of his playthings.” But, wait, dear mother, remember that instincts are crude when they first appear and must be wisely and patiently trained. Let us first respect the child’s rights and say, “Yes, it is your ball, but won’t you let your little friend play with it?”’ By following this method we shall find the child becoming more and more aware of his playmate’s as well as his own rights. He will share his " favorite blocks with another not be- cause some grown-up in authority says, “You must,” but voluntarily be- cause he respects the rights of an- other to share in his play. The idea does not formulate itself in his little mind in-so many words perhaps, but it is the response .that follows from instinctively recognizing that he is being given his due and that it pays to mete out like measure to another. RICE MADE PALATABLE Here are given four recipes for the use of rice which are sent out by the food administration: Louisiana Rice Corn Bread—Rice im- proves either plain cornbread or corn- bread made with eggs and milk. Use it in both. Cornbread made with eggs and milk is rich in protein and makes a good meal sérved with a little gravy. This recipe from Louisiana is not extravagant for the housekeeper who has an abundance of eggs and milk. Use: 3 eggs, 1 pint milk, 11 cups cold boiled rice, 13 cups corn- meal, 2 tablespoons melted fat, 1 tea- spoon salt, 1 teaspoon baking powder. Beat eggs very light; add ingredients in order named; beat hard and bake- in shallow greased pan in hot oven. Cornmeal and Rice Waffles — Mix together a half cup of cornmeal, a half cup of flour, a cup of boiled rice, a.teaspoon of salt, a teaspoon of bak- ing powder; tablespoon melted fat, two beaten eggs, and a pint of milk. Beat well and bake in well-greased hot waffle irons. Rice Gems—One egg, one eup milk, one cup cold boiled rice, one cup flovr or three-fourths cup of cornmeal, one teaspoon salt, one teaspoon baking powder, one tablespoon of melted fat. .Bake in greased hot gem pans, Rice Batter Cakes—Add to one cup of cooked rice a beaten egg, one-half cup of milk, one teaspoon fat, enough flour to make it hold together and one-half teaspoon baking powder. Cook on griddle and serve with syrup. R —— e S