An

Owner's Manua
For Parents

H

ousehold appliances the best advice still comes directly
and automobiles all from the source — the children
come with their own themselves.
instruction manuals.
Five-year-old Ian Bensman
The guidebooks wants all parents to know the key
contain pages of both to being a qualified mom or dad in-
useful and useless cludes allowing children to eat all
information detailing the macaroni and cheese, ice cream
how to care for, op- and spaghetti they want. Going
erate and maintain swimming, playing tennis and
the newly acquired item.
jumping over chairs and couches,
So many products come with he said, should be allowed all the
JENNIFER FINER SECTION EDITOR their own instructions. Shampoo time. So should daily movies.
bottles tell their users how to
wash their hair. Labels on clean- Aaron Stein
ing products indicate where and wants kids
how to use Pine Sol or Tilex and to drive
what to do if "the product is acci- before they
turn 16.
dentally ingested."
But, what about children?
Where are their manuals?
While bookstore shelves are
lined with a multitude of mate-
rial for parents, there is no de-
finitive
"guide" to
parenting.
Wouldn't
it be nice if a
baby was
born holding
a book called
How To Care
Jessica Grene, 5, of
For Me.
Southfield, said good
Perhaps
moms and dads would
let their sons and
daughters eat eggs
and toast, peanut but-
ter and jelly sand-
wiches and bologna.
Rachel Kline, an 11-year-old
Above: Emil Kogan
from the northern Michigan town
says parents should
of Peliston, looks at parenthood
help with homework.
from a different perspective. She
said good parents should ask
about their son or daughter's day
Shira Schreiber says:
at school.
"Don't let kids do
whatever they want."
"If a kid has a behavior prob-
lem and doesn't get good grades,
their parents should make a deal
with them," Rachel said. "For ex-
ample, as long as their grades are
good, they should be allowed to
play a sport or do an after-school
activity."
Rachel believes parents should

9

.

not give in to their children all the
time. When she really wants a
friend to sleep over and is told no,
she gets mad, but "parents cannot
let their kids have everything."
Shira Schreiber, 11, goes to Aki-
va Hebrew Day School. She
agreed parents shouldn't let their
children do whatever they want
because it could be a problem.
"Parents," she said, "are just
looking out for their kids' best
interest. If kids have a problem,

kind of stuff," he
Jessica
said.
However, Steven Grene: "Let
kids eat
thinks parents
eggs and
should put their foot
toast."
down when it's time
for bed. He remem-
bers a classmate from Hebrew
school who fell asleep.
'Don't let kids stay up too late,"
he advised. "If you do, they will
sleep in school."
West Bloomfield res-
ident Andrew Khork-
horin, 8, loves the
parents should listen
Cedar Point amuse-
and help them solve
ment park.
it."
"Kids should be al-
Aaron Stein, an 8-
lowed to go there
year-old attending
whenever they want,"
Avery Elementary
he said.
School in Oak Park,
Good parents should
offered a different
also read stories to their
view. He thinks chil- Rachel Kline says,
children and help them
dren should be al- "Make deals."
with their homework,
lowed to play all the
according to Andrew.
time, watch television all night
Buying lots of toys and pro-
and eat hot dogs and gummy viding help with homework,
bears. And, to make things eas- that's the secret, according to
ier, Aaron thinks parents should Emil Kogan, 9, of Farmington.
let everyone get their driver's li-
Emil said parents should help
cense earlier than 16.
with, but not do, their child's
Steven Fishel of Oak Park is al- homework. "If your mom or dad
most 10. With all his infinite wis- does the work for you, how can
dom, he advises moms and dads the kid learn?" he said.
to treat their children with every-
Most important, according to
thing they want. If a child wants Emil, "Parents should show their
a toy, the parent should try and kids lots of love by treating them
get it for him. "Kids deserve that with respect." 0

fll