Children Who Fidget.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 10724, 23 October 1928, Page 3

Children Who Fidget.

MUCH AIMLESS MOVEMENT,

TIPS TO CURB

r Some children are never still for an instant, and as this is often mistaken for the natural vitality of childhood, many little nervous tricks and habits go recognised as sucli, and consequently unchecked (writes Margaret W.vmer in the London “Daily Chronicle”). If they ask a question they jump up and down in front of you, turn their feet o\er, twist their ankles round or hop from one leg to another. Sitting, they Wvill swing the legs or slide t; eir ft et up and down the floor. They accompany the restless movements ot their feet by twisting the corner of a handkerchief until it resembles a piece of dirty string, ir, woi;se still, by fingering their faces and rubbing their eyes. When /iai> was warn long they would r-omotimeg run the end \ through their mouths. Cno child even went to sleep . sucking her thumy or pulling out little tufts of ham. There is a great difference between a child’s natural desire for exercise and afl this aimless movement, which is very wearing both to the child and her parents or nurse. When such perpetual motion is allowed to continue unchecked these children generally grow up with a great lack of composure and selfcontrol. The grown-up person who rolls and unrolls the corner of the tablecloth while she chats to a friend at afternoon tea was probably the child who screwed the corner of her handkerchief in her nursery days. Tho child “on,wires” is not difficult tb cure by quiet; lnetliods. When she accompanies ; every ; question with a spasmodic dance she should be told tlmt if she coil Id stand still i t would be - easier ;'to think of the ,answer. If she ywrigbles about at meal-times,, or pulls” a ;£jpd'e continually on and off in the""drawing-room, a detaining hand laidtgentlyyoiy 'her . shduld'er 'will '•generally -bb a sufficient'reminder. When she. stands, pm one, leg ask: her :if : ‘ sh'e wants .'to- be taken , for a stork. When she -twists ■„ her / handkerchief; -it is va good plan to give', Itejy the , plainest that icam be, foundj' 'showing,' her at the same time a' daintv box of colored! >viil' be Tiers when she can': be "trusted not to spoil- vtliem. By! such . .means almost every restless habit will, with a Tittle patience, be cured,' and tlie child will gradually acquire a composure which (will be a great..help to her all hei*;;life;i'