THE IDEAL FATHER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23259, 31 January 1939, Page 11

THE IDEAL FATHER

MEDICAL MEN'S ADVICE CONDUCT IN FAMILY LIFE [from a special correspondent] LONDON, Jan. 5 What are the qualities which make an ideal father? Two London doctors, Dr. D. H. Geffen and Dr. W. D. Hyde, attempted an answer to that question in a joint paper at a meeting held this week at Bedford College, London. Addressing health visitors and school nurses Dr. Hyde said that before and during the first month of hia child's life the father must be sympathetic and tolerant, be prepared to give up much of his leisure to his wife, and endeavour to regulate his outings to those in which she can share. As the wife's usual activities and outings were curtailed, he must not allow himself to. drift into his old bachelor's ways. The wireless should not bo so loud as to be detrimental to the child, and an atmosphere laden with tobacco smoke was harmful. And hero is a hint to mothers: Do. not let father be held up to his children as a "bogy-man," to whom all their misdeeds would be reported and who would administer punishment, or they would grow up to fear him. Dr. Hyde urged that fathercraft should not end when the children left school, as the problem of adolescence might be tragic. It was desirable that the young girl should talk to her father about the youth with whom she was keeping company.