The mother’s attitude to the child is of prime importance.  There is a psychological link between mother and child from the very moment of birth—­a link that can be substantially strengthened by breast feeding as far as it is practicable.  The attitude of the mother to the child, even before birth, may well have a marked effect upon the child’s sense of security.  If pregnancy was not welcomed by the mother, her child may come into the world under a distinct handicap, that of being an unwanted child.  Subsequent adjustment may not be as satisfactory as she imagines it to be.

There is often, however, a vast difference between the parents’ love of a child and the child’s subsequent idea of being loved.  The love that every child needs is affection combined with wisdom—­a wisdom that will show itself in a watchful concern for the child’s well-being throughout childhood to late adolescence.  It can be summed up as the kind of love found in a warm family life where all the members—­father, mother, and children—­are in a proper relationship the one to the other.  This relationship is mere difficult to obtain where the child was unwanted or where one parent becomes unwilling to share with the child the love which he or she formerly alone received from the other parent.

A child living in an abnormal family environment, whether that abnormality arises from the birth of the child or the maladjusted personality of a parent, is the type of child which may later seek compensation in irregular sexual behaviour.  But the child who, during its early years, lives in an environment where it feels secure, loved, and accepted is not likely to become a deviant.

Evidence has been presented to the Committee of many cases of delinquency which may fairly be traced to one of the following causes: 

(a) Emotional Disturbances that have arisen out of a divorce, separation, or remarriage.  An emotional upset may arise from a home that is broken by a divorce or separation or, equally important, from a home in which tension follows discord between the parents.

(b) Poor Discipline arising out of a parental notion that love for the child can be shown by gifts in money or kind, or by allowing the child to do what it wants to do.  Many of the parents of delinquent children are in that category of people who have been far too indulgent with their children and have been unable to say ‘No’.  It is a big mistake to suppose that the respect and love of a child will be lost by firm, kindly guidance.  The Committee has evidence that a large group of delinquents detained in an institution attributed their situation to the failure of their parents to be firm with them in early life.

(c) Lack of Training for Parenthood: It was somewhat alarming to find that many parents have found the responsibilities of home life too much for them.  They had entered into matrimony