HEALTH NOTES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 6 August 1928, Page 8

HEALTH NOTES

BACKWARD CHILDREN TRAINING RECOMMENDATIONS (Contributed bv the Department of Health.) One of the most striking features in the educational world to-day is the amount of attention bestowed upon the problem of - mentally-backward children. In the schools increasing efforts are be* ing made to adapt the instruction given to°the mental capacity a A cl needs of the individual pupil. In some cases it is only when school attendance begins that children i are discovered to be mentally backward. A few children are sooner or .later repognised by their parents as being slbwor 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, 1 and-, walkingthey 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. , ,Thb stage tp which these children can advance depends to some extent upon their early training. It is important that they 'should receiv.e all possible education at, school, but it is still more important that they should be given such home training ns will fit them to become successful members of the community. For thi» purpose they must be taught ■not only to care for tliemselVes and their pwn, requirements but also they must learn that the other people with whom they- dome in contact have certain rights which ‘must receive:consideration.. This

essential part of tho training of any child naturally falls upon the mother. The greater necessity lor such training of these backward children is only equalled by the infinitely greater diflicully with which they are taught. Perseverance and patience on the part of tho mother are necessary from the earliest years.

PARENTS’ INFLUENCE To parents who are willing to expend tho 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 more liable to suffer from physical disabilities, poor digestion, constipation, malnutrition—which tend to accentuate the mental backwardness. Therefore constant attention must ho 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 seems definitely backward in these respects. Does the habv 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 toys to feel and play with, colours to interest him, sounds and music to attract his car.

Now, too, is tho time to watch carefully for, and to immediately cheek, the formation of any bad habits, such as hanging 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 brush irig. Difficulty arises from the fact that these children are clumsy, forgotfuf,'easily distracted, and infinitely slow in doing tho smallest- task. A mother running a household with its many duties finds it so much easier to “do the job herself”—to dress the little ono 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.

JUDICIOUS ENCOURAGEMENT 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 t.he 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 bo busy and occupied, happy to do over and over again work which a normal child would soon find uninteresting and irksome. Especially useful is*work involving exercise and control of the hands, such as knitting, crochet, etc., which, though laboriously learned, prove a great source of occupation and pleasure.

The defective speech which so often accompanies mental backwardness may he due to a variety of causes. Sometimes it is due to lack of muscular control of the tongue and lips. Encourage the child to use his lips in blowing a toy trumpet or whistle. Poetry and the 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 °f reproof or a rap on the hand may be useful, especially in the correction of an incipient bad habit —provided the child understands directly for what he is being punished.

Above nil, never discuss the child’s defects in his 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 completed. 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 trainirfg in the early years. This deficiency, unfortunately, usu Ally 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 adaption to his future life.