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April 1971
magic. Nothing comes easier to a child
at play than the imitated sputter of a
machine gun as he murders his friends
"in fun." There is an almost universal
tendency, at any age, to be fascinated by
crime, violence, war and destruction.
But what most parents don't realize is
that good reading material can be made
equally enjoyable. Children have a sub–
conscious need and desire to
be
told
what their bounds are, to be given laws
of right and wrong, black and white.
They are frustrated when unguided.
Left to "decide for himself," a chi ld is
miserable.
Teach Them Character
Teach your children to sort out the
good and reject the bad. Teach them
why,
and then, later, ask them to tell you
why themselves. Teach them - even in
pre-school - to analyze, weigh and
evaluate what they see. Later in the ele–
mentary grades teach them to analyze as
they read. Point out to them various
magazines, newspaper articles, and
books they should read.
The
PLAIN TRUTH
Good character is not inborn. Parents
must
teach
it, developing in them the
character to enforce their own reading.
Your son may find a way to smugglc
comics, bizarre science fiction, or even
pornography into his room unless you
begin to teach him character
before
he
is able to read. Most young girls like–
wise secretly read "!ove" comics, movie
magazines, or foolish and unrealistic
novels -
unless they have learned
Parents and children
should be very careful
whot they ollow into
their minds. Just be–
cause something is in
print, does not mean it
is fit to read.
Ambassador College
Pilotos
39
earlier to see the harm in such reading.
"Forbidden fruit" won't have its charm
if you explain
U'hy
it's wrong and
encourage the child to develop the
character to refuse it.
Watching a child grow and Jearn is a
tremendously rewarding experience. Be
careful with
yom·
child's mind, and you
may
be
privileged to form the knowl–
edge, wisdom, and character of a
leader
in tomorrow's world. O