The Bell Family Charter

Housework: All members of the family must do equal share of the housework according to age and ability. A list of duties will be put up each week.

Free time: Children and parents have an equal right to free time.

Visitors: Children have a right to bring friends home whenever they like.

Bedtime: Bedtime will be fixed according to age. Children of 15 may go to bed when they like.

Rules for parents: parents must not break promises. Parents must not cancel plans suddenly. Parents must not criticize their children in public.

NB. Parents are not always right.

1. What is your opinion of the charter?

2. What does it imply?

3. Do you agree or disagree with the following statements?

What are the arguments for and against each one?

1. Boys should do so much work as girls.

2. Small children should be given jobs too.

3. Children should be given as much free time as adults.

4. Parents must not do anything to upset their children.

4. Talk it over.

   1. What duties do parents have that children don’t?

   2. How will you bring up your children?

4. Team up with your partner and discuss the following rules for parents. Expand on the items given below.

   1. Take a good look at yourself; consciously or unconsciously children pattern themselves on their parents. If you have certain traits you don’t want your children to inherit, make a constant efforts to get rid of these qualities. In other words, one of the most effective ways to child control is self-control.

   2. Be relaxed. If you are ill at ease with children, they know it and become uneasy themselves. Children are very sensitive to tension.

   3. Assert your authority. From the beginning try to make it clear to the children that while you love them and make any reasonable sacrifice for them, they are not rulers and have limited privileges and definite obligations.

   4. Don’t expect miracles. The rule is particularly important in trying to cope with children. It is both unfair and unwise to expect miracles in dealing with children. Modern children grow physically and mentally very fast. But their rate of emotional growth is the same as it always was.

   5. Be consistent. Few things upset a child more than indecisive and erratic treatment from two people who represent law and order and stability in his world – his parents.

5. Discuss problems of child upbringing outlined in the extract below.

   1. Timidity is another common personal defect in children. A reasonable amount of timidity is normal enough. Because some children are more fearful than others. Don’t force the child to face his fears! Most children outgrow their timidity.

   2. Selfishness. Many parents complain that their children are self-centered, never think of anyone but themselves. Have no sense of responsibility. Won’t share and so on… Selfishness is often prolonged in kids by parents, who tend to make slaves of themselves for the children’s benefit.

   3. It is high time to stop being permissive to children. It is urgent to change your attitude and learn to take a stand and be tough in your love.

6. Decide which of the following statements you agree or disagree with.

   1. There’s never a problem child, there are only problem parents.

   2. Anyone who expects quick results in child upbringing is an incurable optimist.

   3. Under dictatorial control adolescents work submissively, show little initiative.

   4. Happiness may be defined as the state of minimal repression.

   5. Healthy children do not fear the future, they anticipate it gladly.

   6. The adults who fear that youth will be corrupted by freedom are those who are corrupted themselves.

7. Pair work. Agree or disagree with the statements below. Be sure to provide sound arguments. Consider the following points and expand them whenever possible.

   1. Children are not supposed to have their opinion, but if they do, the adults ignore them.

   2. The difference between a child and an adult amounts to achieving the state of independence.

   3. The most painful time is adolescence with intense feelings, lack of confidence and rebellion against authority.

   4. The essence of happiness is complete freedom from care.

   5. Most adults think of their childhood as being most happy time.

8. Below are some quotations dealing with family life and children. Illustrate them with a short story.

   1. When children are doing nothing, they are doing mischief. (H. Fielding)

   2. Teach your child to hold his tongue and he will learn to speak fast. (Benj. Franklin)

   3. Anger is never without a reason, but seldom without a good one. (Benj. Franklin)

   4. If children grew up according to early indications, they should have nothing but geniuses. (Goethe)

   5. We are all geniuses up to the age of ten. (A. Huxley)

   6. Children begin by loving parents, as they grow older they judge them, sometimes they forgive them. (O. Wilde)

   7. Children are born to be happy. (J. Marti)

9. Solve the problems.

   1. Your son (daughter) came home from school in low spirits and said that the teacher had been unfair to him (her). What would you do?

   2. Your daughter is in her first year at college. She wants to go away for the weekend. Would you permit her?

   3. Your mother decided to remarry and invited her friend to dinner. You didn’t like him. What would you do?

   4. Your parents are going to divorce. Would you try to prevent the divorce?

   5. Your best friend is going to marry a man who is a friend of the family, very nice and intelligent, but old enough to be her father. What would you advise her?

10. Read the text and say what points you consider the most important and why.