MH page 388

The home should be to the children the most attractive place in the world, and the mother's presence should be its greatest attraction. Children have sensitive, loving natures. They are easily pleased and easily made unhappy. By gentle discipline, in loving words and acts, mothers may bind their children to their hearts.

The home should be made attractive for children through gentle discipline and loving maternal presence. The paragraph provides relational and moral guidance regarding parenting and family environment without stating empirical medical claims.

Young children love companionship and can seldom enjoy themselves alone. They yearn for sympathy and tenderness. That which they enjoy they think will please mother also, and it is natural for them to go to her with their little joys and sorrows. The mother should not wound their sensitive hearts by treating with indifference matters that, though trifling to her, are of great importance to them. Her sympathy and approval are precious. An approving glance, a word of encouragement or commendation, will be like sunshine in their hearts, often making the whole day happy.

Children thrive on maternal sympathy, companionship, and emotional responsiveness. It contains interpersonal ethical instruction alongside an empirical statement about emotional impacts on children.

Instead of sending her children from her, that she may not be annoyed by their noise or troubled by their little wants, let the mother plan amusement or light work to employ the active hands and minds.

Mothers should actively engage children with planned amusement or light work rather than dismissing them. It offers practical domestic and behavioral advice for mothers dealing with active children.