Bringing up the normal child / editor: Henry Smith Williams, M.D., LL.D.

Date:
[1914]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Bringing up the normal child / editor: Henry Smith Williams, M.D., LL.D. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Actual Age and Mental Age It has been said pertinently by a German nerve specialist, Dr. H. M. Oppenheim, that a child’s childishness is its greatest asset. It is al- ways a misfortune for children to be unduly asso- ciated with other children much older than them- selves or with adults. Children who are made to visit museums, picture galleries, and the like, or listen to conversations or lectures unsuited to their years, not only do not benefit thereby, but suffer positive injury. These things should come in their time and place and cannot advantageously be forced on the attention of the undeveloped mind. You should never forget that the interests of your child are naturally and properly different from your interests. It is in the main normal that your children should enjoy the childish sports and diversions which you once enjoyed. So do not attempt to direct the activities of the child into channels that should be normal only at a later period of mental development. The best safe- guard against this mistake is to see that the child associates largely with other children of its own age. | To this end and for many reasons it is desir- able that the child should attend the public schools, there being brought into contact with varied per- [14]
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