CHILDREN WHO FIDGET

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 151, 30 June 1928, Page 20

CHILDREN WHO FIDGET

1 MUCH AIMLESS MOVEMENT. Some childron are never still for an instant, and as this, is often mistaken for tho natural vitality of childhood, many little nervous tricks and habits go recognised as., such, and t'onsequcntly unchecked (writes Margaret Wyincr in the London '/Daily Chronicle"). If they ask a question they jump up and down in front of you, turn their feet over, twist their ankles round or hop -_rom one leg to another. Sitting, they will swing their legs or slide their feet up and down the iloor They accompany the restless movements 'of their feet by twisting the corner of a handkerchief until it resembles a piece of dirty string, or, worse still, by fingering their faces a:id rubbing their eyes. When hair was worn long they would sometimes run the ends through,their mouths.' Ono child even went to sleep . sucking her thumb or • pulling out littlo tufts of hair. There is a great difference between a child's natural desire for exercise and all this aimless movement, which is very wearing both to the child and her parents or nurso. When such perpetual motion is allowed to continue) unchecked these children generally grow up with; a great lack of composure and self-control. Tho grown-up person who rolls and. unrolls the "corner "of tho tablecloth while she chats to a friend at afternoon tea was probably the child who screwed. tho corner of her handkerchief in her nursery days. The child "on wires" is not difficult to cure by quiet methods. When she accompanies every question with a spasmodic dance sho should, bo told that if she could stand still it would bo easier to think of the answer.. If she wriggles about at meal-times or pulls- a shoe continually on and off in

tho drawing-room, a detaining hand laid gently on her shoulder will generally be a sufflcent reminder. When she stands on one leg ask her if she wants to be taken for a stork. When she twists her handkerchief it is a good plan to give hor the plainest that can bo found, showing her at : the- same time a dainty box, of. coloured ones which will be hers when she ■(•an lietrusted not, to spoil them. By such means almost every restless habit will, with a little patience, bo -cured, and the child will gradually acquire a. composure which will be a. great Kelp to her all her life.