Two Helpful Devices by Mrs. C. C. Lewis

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 22, 1915

Two Helpful Devices

By Mrs. C. C. Lewis

MRS. C. C. LEWIS

We are receiving many letters expressing interest in the Home Department. I wish our readers would tell us wherein the department is helping them, and wherein it is failing to meet their needs. We should be glad to hear from those who are being benefited, and also from those who are not receiving the help they desire. We should appreciate suggestive topics. If more of our mothers would do as one mother has done, we should be able to make the department more helpful. For the encouragement of others we will let this mother tell how she helped her little ten-year-old boy remember his duties without being told:—

“For more than a year we have used a simple device which has proved helpful to Frank in showing reverence for the house of God on the Sabbath day. To one end of a piece of white drawing paper six and one-half inches long by four and one-half inches wide, we drew a bunch of flowers and colored them. Neatly cut out flowers or traced ones may be used. Through the middle of the remaining portion we drew several lines with ink, three quarters of an inch apart. Above these we wrote ‘Frank’s marks for showing reverence in the house of God on the Sabbath day.’ We tacked this on the wall in the kitchen, and each Sabbath when he was worthy he received a mark. If he was irreverent, he did not receive a mark, and lost the one for the previous Sabbath as well. At the end of a month he received a small present if he deserved it, which was always a surprise. We soon discontinued this plan, as we do not believe in training him to do right for a reward, but from principle. He is very proud of his marks, and they have proved a real help to him in remembering how to conduct himself in church.

“We have another little ‘reminder’ which helps Frank in calling to mind his little ‘before breakfast responsibilities.’ For this we used a piece of drawing paper three inches wide and six and one-half inches long. Through the middle we drew, one inch apart, two light lines that could be erased. Through this space, tracing around a penny, we drew eight circles, and colored each differently. Over each circle we put a letter, indicating the different things which he was to remember in the order they were to be done. S stood for stove, and meant to light the gas jet under the oven. W was for wash, C for comb, B for brush teeth, T for teakettle, etc. We have the card tacked on the inside casing of the door between the kitchen and the dining room, and without being reminded by his father or me Frank is able to do his work ‘decently and in order.’ He delights to get downstairs first in the morning and have his part all done before I appear. Where there is more than one child in the home, there could be more circles, and these could be grouped and marked in different ways for each child. Even we older children forget sometimes, and just a hint or a glance at something will bring to mind the things we have to do, which, if they were neglected, might prove an unpleasant burden to ourselves and others. This little plan has been a great saving and help to both Frank and me.”