THE SEASIDE HOLIDAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18910, 7 January 1925, Page 5

THE SEASIDE HOLIDAY.

When taking little children to the sea for the first time do not be disappointed if they do not appear enthusiastic as their first glimpso of the ocean. Very fow tinies ar.e quite sure that they like the sea at first. It is so very large, and makes such a noise, especially on a shingly beach. Let them find out for themselves that, although very wet, it will not do more than continue to roar at them gently. ' It is not the slightest use thinking that you can make your child fond of the sea and of bathing by forcing him into the water. He will only get thoroughly fussed and frightened, and then it will bo almost impossible to get him near it again.

Most children will get thoroughly wot when they have their ordinary clothes on, but when thoy are all arrayed for bathing they will steer very clear of the water. The best way to get over this is to provide, instead of a bathing suit, an old suit of overalls, and then let the child play to its heart's content. It will soon be bathing without knowing it. . \ Circulations vary so much that it is impossible to say how long a child or a grown-up person ought to stay in the water. No one should stay in long enough to feel cold unless they are sure of glowing again as soon as they are out. A word about the sun and sunburn. Fair-skinned people _ suffer real agonies', from sunburn. It is absolute cruelty to let little children get to that state of sun-: burn when the skin peels off as if it had been scalded Unless the children are accustomed to having their legs and arms uncovered, and have so got the skin hard-, ened, it is better to let them get used to - it gradually. In any case, dry the;skin well after a bathe or paddle, for thb am will burn it much more readily when it is wet with sea water. Heads should bo kept covered, especially when paddling, and many headaches and worse ills could be avoided by keeping tha back of tho neck covered.