Our Babies

Northern Advocate, 18 March 1939, Page 4 (Supplement)

Our Babies

(By “HYGEIA”) Published under the auspices of the Royai New Zealand Society for the Health of Women and*Children (Plunket Society). “It is reiser to put up a fence at the top of a precipice than to maintain an ambulance at the bottom.” WHAT TO DO ON SUNNY, WARM AFTERNOONS The holidays are over, school has begun again; a new year ahead of us all. But summer is not finished with, and we can still hope for warm afternoons and pleasant evenings. Indeed, better weather conditions often prevail in February and March than in January. The children have had a long holiday, living (if they are lucky enough to have wise parents) a very open-air. care-free life. Even if they have not been away from home, some effort will have been made to change the routine of the school days, and the children benefit in health accordingly. Tills advantage should not be lost to them, and parents should prolong i holiday habits as much as possible, remembering that the more fresh air and sunshine the children get all summer and autumn the less likely they will be to catch colds and passing illnesses in the winter.

The daily swim in the sea, begun with such excitement at the beginning of the warm weather, should be continued as long as possible. They come trooping in from school about 4 o’clock as a rule. Sometimes it is feasible for one dr both parents to meet them with bathing suits and a hamper ready for two or three hours at the beach. If this is not possible a sensible mother will look round for some spot near at hand or sum up her own back or front yard from a youngster’s point of view. A sand pile, a garden hose, even a watering can with a rose attached, can give much' fun, ensure sunshine and fresh air on those active bodids and build health into them. Followed by an active game or a sun bath, the family will come to tea, rosy, breathless, and with astonishing appetites.

Let that meal be taken out of doors as long as possible. Mothers need just a little forethought and knowledge about these picnic meals. Provided the children have had their principal meal at midday, here are some suggestions that may be of help for picnic teams: First, get away from the idea that bread and cake are the only necessities. Sandwuches are the most easily eaten and handled and carried item,

but see that they are made from wholemeal or rye bread and that the fillin’gs are of such good foods as cheese, scrambled egg, cress, parsley and lettuce, marmite, dates, raisins, celery, cr peanut butter. Thus you ensure the children will get good forms of protein, a good supply of mineral salts and fat. and also good chewing. Wrap, each kind of sandwich in greaseproof paper and slip a rubber band arcund them. Carried in a tin they will be. fresh and appetising. Cake is not necessary at all and pastry should never be given. Use instead a handful of dates, as much fresh fruit as possible or jellies or shapes in some form. These can be made in individual jelly jars, land' contain fruit or beaten eggs or milk. The children love to scoop them out, especially if they are in coloured jars of odd shapes. Children never desire food they have never been given, sp do not let theim get to know the taste of wrong foods. Give them variety- and wellprepared meals of the foods that supply the needs of their growing active bodies.

The question of drinks at a picnic is one that should be planned carefully, too. If the, children get their full school quota of milk during the day, then milk need not be taken out of doors. It is better to take some pure water with you than to rely on creek water, and if fruit juices, lemon rind, etc., are added, then the children will be pleased, and mother will know they are getting sufficient vitamins. ' Meals such as these not only provide the children with the needs of their bodies, but, assure the mother also of a rest and change from the preparation of three meals a day indoors, of which the best of us tire at times.