LACK OF SLEEP

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22412, 7 May 1936, Page 12

LACK OF SLEEP

CHILDREN'S HEALTH I . CAUSE OF MALNUTRITION MORE EXERCISE NEEDED SCHOOL DOCTOR'S CRITICISM The view that lack of sleep was a potent cause of malnutrition in New Zealand was expressed by Dr. Ada G. Paterson, director of the Division of School Hygiene, in an address to members of the Auckland Education Board yesterday. No country had better living conditions than New Zealand, she said, and all the facilities for healthy growth were available. The need was for better use and distribution of them. It had been shown that malnutrition was due not only to lack of food, or unsuitable food, but to insufficient sleep or fresh air and unhygienic living conditions. One school attended by y pupils from well-to-do homes had a larger proportion of malnutrition than the average, showing that it was not confined to poor families. The in this case was probably over-stimulation and lack of sleep. t Dr. Paterson said there should be a revaluation of health and physical education. Schools should be places of activity, not of sedentary pursuits only. Children should be taught to use their hands, develop their bodies and keep them healthy. The teaching of domestic science to girls was a particularly important side of manual work. Cooking and housekeeping generally should fill a more honoured place in the outlook of the community, and there would be le»» malnutrition. It was important that more attention should be given to physical education. It was taken for granted that children had amplo opportunity for games. At one time children had a carefree walk to and from school along country lanes, but now getting to school was a nervewracking business and children could no longer play games in the streets near their homes. Their play was becoming more and more sedentary and they would be better engaged learning how to keep their bodies fit than absorbing a mass of facts they would soon forget. Commenting on her recent visit to England, Dr. Paterson said it was noticeable that the ill-clad, half-starved children one used to see had disappeared. This was due to tremendous advances in child welfare and very complete provision for the detection and treatment of physical defects. There had been a steady improvement in physique, but as far as could be ascertained New Zealand children were still taller and heavier than those of the 6arpe age in Great Britain.