Sir.—I read about Friman's1 research in the Toronto Daily Star and would like to explain how I get thumbsucking children to stop. I teach parenting in a Toronto high school and direct a small on-site nursery laboratory center for 3-year-old children.
Thumb-sucking is discussed as something one does at home, in one's bed, usually when sleepy. I explain that since we have no bed at school, I will arrange a little corner as a bed, and if I see children sucking their thumbs, I let them rest there.
I ask the child, "Are you still sleepy, do you need to rest some more?" The response is usually "no," and the thumb comes out. The second time this happens I say, "I see you are still tired," and I lead the child to the "little bed" and say "When you are finished sucking your thumb, come back and join