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ANALYZING YOUR CHILD S47
do with them. Xot once did he drop
even a section, so absorbed was he.
This example of diagnosis is unfairly
shortened and shows general
principles only, but what did this
much show? That the child's nervousness
was caused by a nagging
mother, who loved him very much but
who refused, because she loved him
so, to let him alone to develop his
own character, to play independently.
It made the youngster feel and be disobedient, dependent and
extremely nervous. Constructively it showed that he was
clever with his hands but most of all that he was persistent
and able to concentrate his mind for long periods of time, and
be very happy doing so.
The child was left in the playroom to amuse himself, a new
experience which he enjoyed hugely, while Mrs. Scott and
the mother talked over his whole life history, his relations
with persons at home, servants, relatives, the father. The
agreement was. as always, that the mother was to report to
You Can Bank upon It That Your Baby Is Trying
with All His Plucky Little Heart to Understand
You. Do Your Part
Mrs. Scott once a
week for six
week s, du r i n g
which time the
written diagnosis
was given out, and
suggestions for
the treatment of
the child were
made. These cannot
be duplicated
e x c e p t for
specific cases
and in the form of shorthand notes,
but their effort is to make the parents
understand the child, know
why he is wilful, what he means by
what he sa\s. what he thinks—
even his philosophy of life.
"We must learn to realize and
recognize," says Mrs. Scott, "that
behind the most undesirable faults
in our children may be splendid
qualities, wonderful strength : behind
the most vicious fit of temper is will
power, originality, emotional energy
—powers which if directed constructively
make the unusual personality,
the adult genius. If we treat it arbitrarily,
blindly, cruelly, then we pervert
these qualities into destructive