Parental selfishness can be the cause of a bright child's failure to do well in school, a child psychiatrist told New Orleans parents Wednesday. Speaking at a session of a conference on "How to Keep Your child Well," Dr. J E Chappuis, director of the guidance center of the Institute of Mental Hygiene, discussed the personality problems of children.
Children can sense the selfishness of a parent who wants them to excel, not for their own good, but for the parent's satisfaction, Dr. Chappuis told parents at the session, sponsored by the Tuberculosis Association of Greater New Orleans in co-operation with the Louisiana State university school of medicine.
The child who shows "an inability to learn and to apply himself . . . perhaps got the feeling from his parents that he must excel," he said.
'LACKS CONFIDENCE*
"Yet this child doesn't have confidence in his ability ... so he just refuses to try," and pretends to be satisfied with mediocre or very poor marks, Dr. Ghappuis explained.
This is particularly common in cases where parents demand high grades, but then fail to show appreciation when the child does succeed, he continued.
Dr. Chappuis also discussed the problems involved in handling children with other personality problems including traits of stubborn disobedience and habits of unusual fearfulness and timidity.
The program, aimed at preventing tuberculosis by teaching parents how to preserve the general, health of their children, continues Thursday at 9 a. m. with talks on sex and adolescence.
Dr. Cyril Phillips, director, children's clinic, Tulane university school of medicine, will speak on "Building Wholesome Attitudes Towards Sex," and Dr. Arthur P. Burdon, cinical associate professor in the department of psychiatry and neurology at the LSU medical school, will discuss "Special Problems of Adolescents." TO REVIEW SESSION
W. Findley Raymond, the Tuberculosis Association's director of public information, will review the conference to conclude the program.
Dr. Chappuis' lecture on child personality was one of four lectures Thursday.
Louise Perut, nutritionist, Child Collaborative Development study, Charity hospital, discussed feeding problems. She warned against forcing children to eat, asserting that the child's natural mechanisms will ordinarily make him eat when necessary.
Dr. Nicholas Gagliano, assistant professor in the pediatrics department at the LSU medical school, discussed the role of pediatricians in child care. Mrs. J. B. Hickey, director of the nursing division of the New Orleans chapter, American Red Cross, spoke on accident prevention, and Dr. J. D. Russ, Tulane university medical school assistant professor of pediatrics, discussed prevention of physical problems.
William W. Young Jr., president of the association, and Thelma Deano, board member, presided over the sessions Wednesday.
