IT'S A WISE PARENT,
by Mollie S. Smart &Russell C. Smart '34. Charles Scribner's Sons.New York. 1945. 206 pp. $2.00.
After glancing at articles on how to bring up children I sometimes wonder how so many of us appear to lead normal adult lives. Our families did just about everything wrong in the field of Child Psychology. Parents of today, instead of "Spare the Rod" are confused with many theories of child upbringing. Amid all this complicated literature it is comforting and reassuring to find a book that is simple and direct and goes right to the heart of the problem. All children vary, even in the same family, and they vary from their parents too. Faced with that fact, this book proceeds to suggest some practical, general rules that can be applied nearly all the time. It begins, however, and ends, with advice to parents which is a field almost totally untouched. Be yourself, be an adult, be natural with your emotions, but don't forget what it is like to be a child. Since you are an adult, analyze why you do certain things. Is it because you were brought up that way? Have you allowed for progress in feeding and clothing and responsibilities?
As to the children and their development and problems, they are handled in a simple, direct fashion without laying down hard and fast rules. The book has many helpful suggestions, but at the same time is willing to admit that children at times can be "a pain in the neck." The approach is sensible and practical, which should be a relief to many parents who have been struggling to "do right" by their children. The language is suitable to a layman and is not interlarded with highly technical phrases. Moreover the authors have a nice sense of humor and have not been afraid to use it.
The book's charm and value lie in its human approach to a human subject. Its Virtue is that a harried parent can make sense out of it as well as getting help and strength to go on with the task. The illustrations by Ruth Wood are delightful. And there is a short bibliography with pertinent comments on each book listed. By the time the book is finished, any reader is sure to feel that raising a family needn't be so bad after all. In fact I'm sending a copy to my married sister!
