This is the true philosophy of most of what is called heedlessness in children, and for which, poor things, they receive so many harsh reprimands and so much punishment.
A little girl, for example, undertakes to water her sister's plants.

In her praiseworthy desire to do her work well and thoroughly, she fills the mug too full, and spills the water upon some books that are lying upon the table.

The explanation of the misfortune is simply that her mind was filled, completely filled, with the thoughts of helping her sister.

The thought of the possibility of spilling the water did not come into it at all.

There was no room for it while the other thought, so engrossing, was there; and to say that she _ought_ to have thought of both the results which might follow her action, is only to say that she ought to be older.
_Sympathy as the Origin of childish Fears_.
The power of sympathy in the mind of a child--that is, its tendency to imbibe the opinions or sentiments manifested by others in their presence--may be made very effectual, not only in inculcating principles of right and wrong, but in relation to every other idea or emotion.