HEALTH NOTES

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 June 1927, Page 3

HEALTH NOTES

BACKWARD CHILDREN. (Contributed by the Department o£ Health.) A few children are sooner or later recognised by their parents as being slower in mental development than others. When compared to their normal brothers ' and sisters, their progress as infants and children is noticeably retarded; they are slow in recognising sights and sounds; in sitting up, in crawling, and walking; they do not attempt the activities of a normal infant, but seem content to be in a state of lethargy. In some cases such children with careful training may “catch up” on their more rapidly blossoming brothers and sisters, but often their lack of development persists and their intelligence even in adult life remains much the same as that of a child. The stage to which these children can advance depends to some extent upon their early training. It is important that they should receive all possible education at school, but it is still more important that they should .be given such home training as will fit them to become successful members of the community. For this purpose they must be taught not only to care for themselves and their own requirements, but also they must learn that the other people with whom they come in contact have certin rights which must receive consideration. This essential part of the training of any child naturally falls upon the mother. The greater necessity for such training of these backward children is only equalled by the infinitely greater difficulty with which they are taught. Perseverance and patience on the part of the mother are necessary from the earliest years.

To parents who are willing to expend the extra time and trouble, some suggestions may be of value. Firstly, make sure that all physical defects are treated. A child that is mentally “unfinished” is also liable to suffer from physical disabilities, poor digestion, constipation, malnutrition — which tend to accentuate the mental backwardness. Therefore constant attention must given to matters of diet, sleep, fresh air, suitable clothing, regular habits, condition of teeth, nose and throat, etc.

Knowing the milestones of a normal infant —that is to say, the ages at which it first takes “notice,” holds up its head, walks, talks, etc., the mother should note whether her child is definitely backward in these respects. Does the baby seem to be lethargic and lacking in initiative —when another of the same age would be exploring everything within reach —seeing, feeling, tasting? If so, encourage him day after day, in these activities, give him toys to feel and play with, colours to interest him, sounds and music to attract his ear.

Now, too, is the time to watch carefully for, and to immediately check, the formation of any bad habits, such as banging the head against the cot, rocking backwards and forwards, making peculiar movements or indulging in fits of screaming. A determined effort must be made from the very first to train the child in cleanly habits. If sufficient time and patience is expended, failure is unnecessary. “Any child,” says a leading authority, “excepting the lowest grade imbecile, can be taught to be cleanly.” As the child grows older, everything he is able to do for himself, he must be encouraged in—dressing, doing up buttons and ties, washing' and brushing. Difficulty arises from the fact that these children are clumsy, forgetful, easily distracted, and infinitely slow in doing the smallest task. A mother running a household with its multitudinous duties, finds it so much easier to “do the job herself” —to dress the little one and to sit him out of the way like a piece of furniture. When she does this, she deprives her child of most valuable training and education. Whatever he can do, he must do, but do not let the task be too hard —so that failure is inevitable. With perception of, and pride in, his duty towards himself —it is necessary for the growing child to realise that there are others in the world whom it should be his desire and pleasure to help. If he can assist mother in tidying, drying the dishes, dusting or bringing in the milk bottles, he will feel that he is adding his small contribution to the happiness of the home.

Continuous occupation is needful. With the simple tasks that they have learned to do well these children can be busy and occupied, happy to do over and ovei’ again work which a normal child would find uninteresting and irksome. Especially useful is work involving exercise and control of the hands, such as knitting, crocket etc., which, though laboriously learned, prove a great source of occupation and pleasure.

The defective speech which so-often accompanies mental backwardness may be due to a variety of causes. Sometimes it is due to lack of muscular control of the tongue and lips. Encourage a child to use his lips in blowing a toy trumpet or whistle. Poetry and' singing of simple tunes will often improve backwardness of speech. Punishment will be found in most cases to be of little value. A child who is labouring at a task, simple enough, but to him of the greatest difficulty, certainly will not find that a slap or a scolding increases his capabilities. Occasionally a sharp word of reproof or a rap on the hand may be useful, especially in the correction of an incipient bad habitproviding the child understands directly for what he is being punished. Above all, never discuss the child’s defects in ihs hearing. He will take far more notice of a remark made to a third person in his presence than he will of the same remark addressed directly to himself. Once he feels that he is “different,” that he is expected to be slow, and that failure is a foregone conclusion, he is beaten before the start. Give him tasks that are not too easily performed, so that exertion is necessary; but not so hard as to discourage him, the mother contributing patience, judicious encouragement and praise for a task successfully complet-

The difficulties, the bad traits, the lack of good habits which, in older years are almost hopeless to deal with successfully, arise in the majority of cases from lack of training in the early years. This deficiency, unfortunately, usually occurs, not from unkindness or neglect, but from misplaced • parental solicitude, which strives to assist and protect the weak and handicapped one of the family, and instead deprives him of the essentials of his social training and hinders his adaptation to his future life.