“DIFFICULT” CHILDREN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25303, 13 August 1943, Page 3

“DIFFICULT” CHILDREN

The inquiry for beds for difficult children is rapidly increasing (states the annual report of the matron of the Truby Ktng-Harris Hospital. “My child; won’t eat," or “ Only -when I make him is a growing concern of the parents. How it contrasts with the fears of our pioneer parents lest we ate too much, or with our own fears that we might not get enough. Many conditoins have combined to make to-day’s mothers over-anxious about the feeding of their children (the matron adds). With her husband In the armed forces, the mother in her loneliness and anxiety turns to her child for comfort, resulting at times in over-attention. The child thereby gets something that it wants more than food—the undivided, solicitous attention of every adult about him. Our advice to parents is to provide regular well-balanced meals for their children and to serve them without one word about food. He should not be forced, as he has the best “ inside information ” of what he requires at that particular meal, and ne should eat only to supply his body requirements, not to please the parent. The meal time then should become a pleasant family occasion instead of one of scolding and discord. Let us therefore allow our children the privileges of hunger, and the joy of appeasing it.