OBSERVATION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21332, 5 November 1932, Page 7 (Supplement)

OBSERVATION

Every child should be taught in his •arly years to " use his eyes " intelligently as a means of observation of people and things around Iriin. Looking round to-day even the most casual observer must be struck with the ever-increasing number of children wearing glasses. When it is an established fact that very few babies are born with actual malformation of the eye, this state of things gives one to think. That the eye muscles require careful and regular exercise quite as much as any other muscles in the body to keep them •healthy is the belief of the new school of onhthalmo-therapy, and it is the lack pf this which is the main cause of the many cases of long or short sig ue ncss and even of pseudo-astigmatism. By training the child how really <> use "his eyes in his nursery days he will readilv acquire the habit of eye exercises until "he performs this as a matter ot course in the same wajj in which he brushes his teeth. In fact, the best idea is to teach the child' to do his exercises daily when be is cleaning his teeth, utilising the tooth brush as a helpful piece of " equipment. The tooth brush is held quite near the eves first, then at arm's length; the_se movements being alternately repeated for twenty, times. These movements call upon the eve muscle to alter the focus rapidly, and this gives it exercise number one. The second is performed after tins fashion. Tell the child to move the eyes up and down by looking quickly from floor to ceiling for the same number of times as in the initial exercise, then show him how to " blink " Ins eyes for a moment, and finally make him squeeze them tightly shut and open wide lour times. , . ~ If eve drill and tooth brush drill aio presented to children in the light way they will thoroughly enjoy the game, and' at the same time be helping to keep these, precious parts of their bodies health v.