Children's Emotions (1950)

[Music] babyhood is fun and this fun is important because in babyhood the foundation is laid for behavior during the rest of the child's life what kind of child will he be let's watch his emotional reactions as he grows beyond babyhood he has to face all kinds of new situations because he's had little experience in making adjustments his reactions are [Music] intense no social taboos or cultural Traditions affect him yet so you know where you stand with him when he's angry he's entirely angry but it passes because it is expressed anger cools off quickly if we work it off instead of bottling it [Music] up because he doesn't hide it it passes his system is cleared out and he responds quickly and wholeheartedly to cheerfulness and affection in other people when he is happy he is completely happy no worrisome memories or vague for boings bother him that's what makes children so refreshing as the baby grows his emotions change at first he cries from internal causes such as hunger later he becomes is more sensitive to his surroundings and he cries more from external causes and so as children grow they respond differently to the same treatment this baby objects to getting his shoes on the toddler may be glad of assistance the six-year-old will lose his temper because he thinks he can do it better himself because the child's emotions are so intense and changeable it's often hard to understand them but if we can see things from his point of view it will help for instance curiosity is a natural state for the baby suppose you were in his place what is it why does daddy like them what does it taste like what noise does it make what if you pull the cloth why will it grow why won't it grow what will she do if you run away how does it work what does it mean what why but where the only way to deal with curiosity is to satisfy it don't touch deprives him of his most valuable source of information but there are some things he can't figure out and so success in his quest for knowledge depends on the adults around him children's thought processes are different from adults because so many of their concepts are incomplete and vague they don't ask questions just to annoy they really want to know finally understanding DA they can find some of the answers for themselves curiosity in children should be encouraged because it nourishes the very roots of Education fear is a more Sinister emotion because it can affect development it should be prevented what is there to frighten babies well suppose you were 6 months old you oh [Music] baby [Music] [Laughter] now wasn't that a good trick Sandy now you were such a good little boy I'm going to show you another one why doesn't he just show you pictures that's now you're growing up you're not so much afraid of noises and people sometimes they make faces at you but if you keep quiet they go away wish the Milkman didn't bring that horse every morning must get into mummy quick bill is bringing his new puppy will it bite you don't want to read that animal book anymore now you're six not afraid of baby things it's kind of fun to be a little scared wouldn't go down sell alone though ever since Aunt Betty said there were rats down there that would bite you wouldn't go upstairs alone at night either you don't like [Laughter] darkness no use calling Mommy she'll say it's just a dream nothing at all what's that don't move it might be something you wish that cupboard door was closed might be a rat in there too now you're 10 not so much afraid at night Mom leaves the door open and the light on in the hall since you asked her to there's nothing in that closet wish you'd closed it though you can't hear anything can't hear Mommy and Daddy breathing maybe they're dead someday they will die you'd like to get into mom's bed but you're afraid to get out of your own Thunder mom will close the window she's scared of thunder too these are typical fears of many young children as the child grows older most of them will disappear but fear need not become a habit if it does it can ruin mental and physical health there are many ways to prevent the fear Habit in children strangers can come gently with mummy coming first to give warning he is taught to control his surroundings as soon as he can noisy things are introduced at a distance he's taught to understand what makes the [Music] noise he's given a chance to watch the puppy with someone else for a while first the kind gentleman realizes that his laugh could be frightening to a small child he's given reassurance when he needs it and above all mother is unafraid and cheerfully sympathetic in emergencies Aunt Betty takes him down cellar with her instead of using fear as an easy way of making him obedient and so as he grows up there is very little to be afraid of anger is another emotion which begins very early in life there are so many things that don't go the way you want them to you know it's infuriating to be stuck here on your stomach and not be able to turn [Music] over if you get angry enough and cry loud enough somebody usually comes to do something for you but why does she always have to change your pants instead of picking you up and you get angry at things as well as people and as you get older you have to do even more things you don't want to do sitting here when you don't even want to go to the bathroom and they're always taking things away from you they give you toys that won't stand up other people snatch things you are just going to play with they're always bothering you when you want to be left alone and then leaving you alone when you'd rather stay with them they'll wash your face every chance they get and they're always pulling tight clothes over your ears they play with that big paper and if you try to play too they just get crossed or if they don't read they just talk and talk a lot of sounds that don't mean anything the worst of it is they don't think you can decide anything for yourself if they don't watch out getting angry will become a habit and then you won't do anything for them even if it's something that you don't really care about now you're growing up and you can get angry just as well as well as they can that'll show her and when you're older they Yak the yak all the time and you're acting like a child of five hurry up or you'll be late for school again you've just got to tidy up this room it's been getting worse and worse for a week there are ways in which anger can be prevented from becoming a habit too at this age the best antidote is diversion then comes Sympathy for the baby's inability to do things for himself and understanding of the intensity of his wants training is hard for a baby let him know that you are with him and not against him maybe he didn't have to go after all let him take the initiative whenever possible you can always rinse it off after he washes and that matter of toys they should work they should fit and they should stand up if they're supposed to you know it's really simpler to put the paper away for 10 minutes daddy should realize that there is a proper time for playing and sunny will realize that there is a proper time for newspaper reading that friction with the older child can best be avoided by cooperation until good habits are established it takes two to make a quarrel and must he go to the picnic after all democracy begins at home jealousy is a withering emotion it always involves people usually much loved ones often is caused by the fear of losing someone's affection when you're little you're the most important person in the world and mother comes next you have all of her attention and the more you've had and the longer you've had it the more you want it how would you feel if this happened to you I can't look at it now dear the baby needs her bath not now darling I have to feed the baby not just now dear I have to iron the baby's dress you just have old overalls to wear you're supposed to eat that stuff by yourself just let her touch one of your toys you you'll get even with her but you can be jealous of other people too good night Sunny now you be a good boy and go to sleep mommy and I are going out good night darling sleep well and you have to go to bed while your big brother reads comics half the night and the fact that he understands football and you don't doesn't make it any easier to be left behind it can happen to you at school too especially if you have a really swell teacher that big show off is the teacher's pet just because he makes better grades than you do Jimmy always plays with Pete now because they have bikes jealousy is hard to deal with because it goes pretty deep sometimes it is slow burning and hidden sometimes in younger children it flares up this is easier to handle because you can recognize it but jealousy may be there when nobody knows it's there almost every child feels it at some time it's better if he is prepared for the new arrival beforehand and letting him help with the little sister will make him part of the team somehow or other he must get his own share of attention and equal rights are important there are times when the baby's bath is not nearly as urgent as a minor repair to a toy and mother must try to have a real understanding of each child's needs but the most frequent emotion of all should be happiness it is founded partly on physical well-being and he is more likely to be happy if he is relaxed and rested if he is secure in the knowledge that there is someone to take care of him in times of trouble and to appreciate his personal achievements in times of peace he is sure of his own importance as he grows up yet he is not undisciplined there are rules but they are reasonable and consistent he reaches the end of childhood with a capacity for happiness that has grown with him from babyhood because babyhood is fun and his happiness and affection reach out to everybody he knows in the beginning food and warmth and love are very close together this is perfect contentment and when he's two it's just it's true that he can best Express his affection if Mother meets his own level there are so many things to be happy about there are games and jokes you're so clever when you're two there's satisfaction in doing things and so many kinds of friends some you find outside and some that go everywhere even to bed bed with you some like Aunt Marge that you only see once in a while and best of all there's love because you see providing the material equipment for childhood is not enough there are emotions too some good and some bad and by being truly happy with them we give to our children their best chance of enduring [Music] happiness a