HEALTH CAMPS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 8, 8 December 1936, Page 8

HEALTH CAMPS

TEACHING CHILDREN TO REST. Life in the New Zealand children's health camps is not an exciting programme of daily events but is carefully planned to provide happy days with ample rest, as the latter is the outstanding need for young and ailing children. The day in camp, therefore, includes definite rest periods as part of the routine and it has been noted that while at first children are not keen about the regular process and that it is the least popular part of camp routine in the earlier stages, they eventually appreciate it so much that there are many instances of its continued practice in their own homes. The time of rising has also been the subject of careful thought by the camp organisations. Six a.m. was selected in one instance as the hour about which the children were found to awaken, but the rising bell was not sounded like an alarm, one or two tolls being given, and if it was found that the children were all asleep at six o'clock on any morning they were not awakened for another half hour. Although reading in bed at night is not generally allowed It has been found advisable at one of the large camps to permit children to have a library book in their lockers. This keeps the early wakers epiiet before six a.m.