" e nave two children, six and nine year* old. I have an opportunity

nave two children, six and nine year* old. I have an opportunity to work at my former position. Since my husband's salary as a book* keeper is modest, we need the extra income. Should I accept the position? If so, how can we best provide for the welfare of our children? v

This is a decision that rests With you and your husband alone. It would seem to me, however, that in making your decision, you should face the following questions: , . ■ . ■ *

1. Is the extra income absolutely essential for the welfare of all the members of the family? There are not many families, I assume, that do not feel the need for additional funds, especially during this period of inflation. Nevertheless, by practicing economies, they can get along without too much difficulty. Tour children are at the age when they especially need their mother's companionship, guidance, and help. If you can get along without working, there* fore, let me urge you to do so. On the other hand, there are families, and yours may be one of them, that are having such a hard time getting along that the entire atmosphere of the home is affected. Mother and Dad are concerned about “finances” to such an extent that they think of little else. A general feeling of tenseness and insecurity pervades the home. Conversation is directed primarily at what the family docs not have, rather than what it has. .. S ' *

Because of this feeling of insecurity, the parents are somewhat on edge emotionally, and frequently speak more sharply to each other and to the children than they would under ordinary circumstances. When this situation exists, the children are almost certain to develop within themselves thofeeling of insecurity that characterizes their parents. They tend to become confused and fearful Such an atmosphere is not wholesome and if the mother, by working, can change — it, it may be desirable for her to do so. * __j.£_.J-;2. If your former position does not permit you to get home until five or five-thirty, can you make provision for someone to be at home when the chil~ dren arrive from school? Perhaps yon have a relative you can call upon to do this. Or, you may be able to secure a trustworthy maid to look aft*r the children until you return. 3. Wfll it be necessary for you to do the housework and cooking in addition to your work away from home? This takes you back -to the possibility of secur‘d ing a good maid. It is too much to expect of the mother that she do both jobs

Ordinarily, what are some af the things that would causo overatiam* latkm and overexcitement in n child three years of ago? It should be remembered, first of all, that children differ considerably in sensitivity to stimuli Situations that for some children most decidedly would be too exciting may be perfectly all right for other children. ~ Everything else bring equal, it is likely that a child is being overstimulated k : his daUy activities if he manifests one or more of the following symptoms: increased fearfulness that expresses itself by his clinging to parents or an insistence upon a light in hit bedroom; difficulty in sleeping or sleeping fitfully; loss of appetite; mutual irritable ness; more crying than usual. Normally the following situations tend to overstimulate the three-year-old child: ' > L Being ia crowds, especially crowds of aduha. Jt Too many trim or excursions. Museums, unusually large bn, circuses, and carnivals are likely to be confusing and thus overstimulating. 3. Movies—practically all of them. Even cartoons can be too exciting. k Fairy stories that include accounts of cruel men and women. On the other hand,* children of this age delight in personalised animal stories. 5. Exciting radio programs. *•- Too many toys. Children often get so many toys at Christmas, for example, that they are confused by them. Better a few toys at a time. “7. Toys that are too difficult for them, such as those that require the exercise of the small rather than the large muscles. Mechanical toys that require winding and that get broken easily are undesirable for children of this age. 8. Teasing by adults. Adults need to be warned especially against laughing it children because of remarks made in all seriousness. 9. Quarreling parents. If a three-year-old senses that his sense of security is lessened he is likely to become fearful and irritable. TO. Hearing about serious illness or death. A three-year-old cau develop fears _ of sickness and death, even though their meaning may not be too clear to him.

Can “cops-and-robbers” games go too far? Dr. Maynard discusses this in his new booklet which it free to readers of this newspaper. Send a postcard to Donald M. Maynard, 810 Broadway, Nashville 2, Tennes- « .see, and ask for a copy. --:.j-_