Whoever Influences The Child's Life Ought To

From A Child's Play, We Can Gain Understanding Of How He Sees And Construes The World--what He Would Like It To Be, What His Concerns Are, What Problems Are Besetting Him.

While Criticism Or Fear Of Punishment May Restrain Us From Doing Wrong, It Does Not Make Us Wish To Do Right. Disregarding This Simple Fact Is The Great Error Into Which Parents And Educators Fall When They Rely On These Negative Means Of Correction. The Only Effective Discipline Is Self-discipline, Motivated By The Inner Desire To Act Meritoriously In Order To Do Well In One's Own Eyes, According To One's Own Values, So That One May Feel Good About Oneself May "have A Good Conscience.

The Question For The Child Is Not Do I Want To Be Good? But Whom Do I Want To Be Like?

This Is Exactly The Message That Fairy Tales Get Across To The Child In Manifold Form: That A Struggle Against Severe Difficulties In Life Is Unavoidable, Is An Intrinsic Part Of Human Existence -- But That If One Does Not Shy Away, But Steadfastly Meets Unexpected And Often Unjust Hardships, One Masters All Obstacles And At The End Emerges Victorious.

Punishment May Make Us Obey The Orders We Are Given, But At Best It Will Only Teach An Obedience To Authority, Not A Self-control Which Enhances Our Self-respect.