Gruesome Tales for Children

How children take World War II--and how parents should take war-excited children--is the subject of a study by Edna Dean Baker, president of the National College of Education (teacher-training) at Evanston, Ill. Findings:

> Four-and five-year-olds bit their bread into the shape of guns and played war at table, started bombing games whenever they got their hands on toy boats or planes, invariably became shrill and tense when they played at war. One child, during a game with blocks, proposed: "Let's give this lumber to the Germans so they won't bomb us." Another, defying his mother, exclaimed: "I am Hitler."

> Highly emotional about the war was the group aged 6 to 8. They hated all Germans, talked much about killing. Said one: "I've invented a new kind of gas. The dictators will be dead in two weeks." Another: "I have invented a new way to kill people. You just think about it in your mind if you want to kill anyone. It can kill 6,000. I want to use it on the Japanese Emperor."

> Older children (9 to 14) were unemotional, surprisingly well informed about the war. They were keenly interested in geography and battle technique. They did not hate the German people, concentrated their disapproval on Hitler.

Miss Baker's conservative advice for parents:

Children under 6--Reassure them frequently that Hitler will not get them; avoid talking about war in their presence; keep them busy with pleasant things.

Six to 8--Discuss the war freely, but avoid talking about destruction, brutality, suffering or war guilt; take their minds off war by playing family games, singing old songs, keeping home fires burning brightly.

Nine to 14--Let them listen to the radio; play up stories of gallantry and cheerfulness among war-stricken peoples; discuss with them the background of war, the peace-to-come.

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