Radio mirror (Nov 1936-Apr 1937)

didn't want to go. She kicked and squalled and in a most feminine manner scratched the nurse. So they put her in the "punishment room," a light cheerful room with nothing in it. There she stayed until she was quiet for several minutes. When she was released she began at once to play happily with her sisters. After a bit she paused. She went over to the nurse she'd scratched and hugged her. The nurse hugged back. Now maybe you can't afford a special punishment room. But any mother can confine a child who's had a tantrum in his own nursery. Children can be trained to go into such a room without having a locked door. The Quints remain in their punishment room for varying lengths of time, according to the degree of naughtiness. Dr. Dafoe pleads with you never to use for this purpose a room which is dark or has anything frightening in it. The Quints' friend and doctor is like a good many of us in disliking the "smartaleck" show-off child. Think how_ easy it would have been to let the Quints develop into vain little ladies. Think of the care in shielding them from any knowledge of the many watching eyes! As a matter of fact, after they acted in the motion picture called "The Country Doctor" they did indulge in a little posing. But when no one paid the slightest attention to their parlor tricks they soon got over them. IF their small poses had been applauded as "cute," if any tiny Dionne had been given the experience of holding the center of the stage — well, as Dr. Dafoe puts it, "The first thing we knew we'd have had a spoiled baby on our hands!" Ever since they were able to, the Quints have been allowed to climb and slide and have plenty of rough and tum RADIO MIRROR ble. In their playground is a gym tower with a platform about five feet in the air. At two and a half years old, the Quints climb all over this apparatus. They also ice skate and rarely cry when they take a tumble. For Dr. Dafoe believes that unplanned exercise as well as the planned kind increases a child's strength. And what is equally important, his courage. Another way Dr. Dafoe builds up security and self-confidence in the Quints is by watching them keenly and checking little situations which put one child at a disadvantage. Marie was in an unfortunate situation of this sort when she was about a year old. If you remember, Marie was the smallest Quint. She was still very weak, just beginning to crawl, not nearly strong enough to keep up with the others. "She couldn't even get out of bed by herself," says Dr. Dafoe, "and the nurses thought they were favoring her when they let her rest until the others were bathed. "But poor Marie had different ideas about being left until the last. She felt she was being neglected. And, young as she was, she began to develop a sort of inferiority complex. "So one day I thought I would have Marie bathed first. It was just what she wanted. She was proud as she could be. She was one of the gang again — a full member!" Dr. Dafoe has also realized that a normal child Iovesto help. From this wish he has fostered in the Quints "the habit of disciplined responsibility." Little Emilie, Cecile, Yvonne, Marie and Annette each has her own cupboard for toys and wardrobe for clothes. The nurses praise the children when they stow away playthings and hang up garments neatly and the Quints vie with each other to set and clear away the table. Most of the time they're at play the Quints are let alone. They work out their own small conflicts and squabbles. But in the late afternoon after their baths they have an hour of "organized play," listening to the piano, singing soft little songs or, best of all, story telling. THE Quints have never been told any ' really sensational or frightening tales. But once in a while they used to hear a rather emotional one. One twilight, for instance, a nurse read them aloud Old Mother Hubbard and her poor dog, Tray. The book had large, graphic pictures which the Quints looked at mournfully as the story unfolded. Emilie, especially, was deeply touched at the plight of the hungry dog, who looked in the cupboard and found nothing to eat. That night she lay awake crying for hours. At breakfast she got down the book, got the picture of Tray and tried to put her piece of bacon in his mouth. "And I can assure you," concludes Dr. Dafoe, "that was the last highly imaginative tale they were ever told." Dr. Dafoe has devoted several broadcasts to talks on "Habits for Parents." If a child's home is a happy and wellbalanced one, he will reflect that almost as distinctly as a mirror will reflect the features of his face. If the home is marked with clashing temperaments, constant quarreling and unfortunate scenes, all this is certain to mark him adversely. The Quints have never been threatened, nagged, bossed or purposely frightened. Not one knows what it feels like to have an adult lose his temper. They have never heard of the boogey man. The nurses who surround them are happy, well, normal, finely disciplined women. The Quints have been brought up in a steady atmosphere of consideration and . ' BUT GRACE BOTH BE THERE u GRACE WAS*TOOTIRED* TO ENJOV THE CROWD W I KNOW IT'S -JUST BEASTLY ) TO LOSE YOUR PEt> /VCV DOCTOR SAYS VNUEW YOU FEEL RUN-DOWN LIKE THAT YOUR BLOOD IS SENERALLY UNDERFED. HE HAD MS EAT FLEISCHMANN'S YEAST./ SAID IT FEEDS THE BLOOD MAV6E THAT'S WHAT I NEEDI THINK I'LL TRY IT W& VITAMINS A.B.ComdD