HEALTH NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3823, 21 June 1927, Page 7

HEALTH NOTES.

BACKWARD CHILDREN.

ADVICE TO PARENTS.

(Contributed by the Department of Health.)

A few children are sooner or later recognised by their parents as being slower in mental development than others. When compared to their normal brothers and sisters, their progress as infants and children is noticeably retarded ; they are slow in recognising sights and sounds; in sitting up, in crawling, and walking; they do not attempt the activities of the nor mal infant, but seem to be content to be in a state of lethargy In some cases such children, with careful training, may “catch up’ on their more rapidly-blossoming brothers and sisters, but often their lack of development persists and their intelligence even in adult life remains much the same as thaf of a child.

The stage to which these children can advance depends to some extent upon their early training. It is important that they should receive all possible education at school; but it is still more important that they should be given such home training as will fit them to become successful members of the community. For this purpose they must be taught not only to care for themselves and their own requirements, but also they must learn that the other people with whom they come in contact have certain rights which must receive consideration. This essential part of the training of any child naturally falls upon the. mother. Ihe greater necessity for such training of these backward children is only equalled by the infinitely greater diffi. ■ulty with which they are taught. Perseverance and patience on the part of the mother are necessarv from the earliest years. PARENTS’ INFLUENCE. To parents who are willing to expend the extra time and trouble some suggestions may be of value. First make sure that all physical defects are treated. A child that is mentally “unfinished” is also more liable to suffer from physical disabilities, poor digestion, constipation, malnutrition —which tend to accentuate the mental backwardness. Therefore, constant attention must be given to matters of diet, sleep, fresh air, suitable clothing, regular habits, condition of the teeth, nose’ and throat, etc. Knowing the milestones of a normal infant—that is to say, the ages at which it first takes holds up its head, ,■ talks, etc. the mother should note whether her child seems definitely back ward in these respects. Does the baby seem to be-lethargic and lacking in initiative—when another of the same"ago would be .exploring everything within reachseeing, feeling, tasting? If so. encourai’e him oay after dav. in these activities, give mm toys, to feel and play with, colours to interest him. sounds and music to attract his ear;

Now too. is the time to watch caretuily for, and to immediately check the formation of any bad habits, such as banging the head against the cot, rocking backwards and forwards, making peculiar movements or indulging in fits of screamin"- A determined effort must be made from” the very first io jrain the child in cleanly habits If sufficient time and patience is °1 u S'' fa,,l,re 13 unnecessary “Anv ohi.d says a leading authority. “ “excepting the lowest grade imbecile, can be taught to bo cleanly.’* - As ,, th ® child grows older, everything he is able to do for himself, he must be encouraged m—dressing, doing up buttons and ties, washing and brushing. Difficulty anses from the fact that, these children are clumsy forgetful, easily distracted, and infinitely slow in doing the smallest, task. A mother running a household with its multitudinous duties, finds it so much easier to “do the job . herself”—to dress the little one_ and to sit him out of the way like a piece of furniture. When she do P 3 /his, she deprives her child of most valuable training and education. Whatever he can do, he must do, but do not let _ the task be too hard—so that failure is inevitable.

JUDICIOUS ENCOURAGEMENT. With perception of, and pride in, his ,-duty towards himself—it is necessary for the growing child to realise that there arc others in the world whom it should bo his desire and pleasure to help. If he can assist mother in tidving, drying the dishe», dusting, or bringing in the milk bottles, he will. feel that he is adding his small contribution to the happiness of the home.

Continuous occupation is needful. With the simple tasks that they have learned to do well these children can be busy and

occupied, happy to do over and over again work which a normal child would soon find uninteresting and irksome. Especially useful is work involving exercise and control of the hands, such as knitting, crochet, etc., which, though laboriously learned, prove a great source of occupation ana pleasure.

The defective speech which so often accompanies mental backwardness may be due to a variety of causes. Sometimes it is due to lack ■of muscular control of the tongue and lips. Encourage the child to use his lips in blowing a toy trumpet or whistle. Poetry and the singing of simple tunes will often improve backwardness of speech. Punishment will be found in most cases to be of little value. A child who is labouring at a task, simple enough, but to him of the greatest difficulty, certainly will not find that a slap or’ a scolding increases his capabilities. Occasionally a sharp word of reproof or a rap on the hand may be useful especially in the correction of an incipient bad hahi* —-provided the child understands directly for what ho is being punished. Above all, never discuss the child’s defects in his hearing. He will take far more notice of a remark made to a third person in his presence than he will of the same remark addressed directly to himself. Once he feels that he is “different,” that ho is expected to be slow, and that failure is a foregone conclusion, he is beaten before the start. Give him tasks that are not too easily performed, so that exertion is necessary ; but not so hard as to discourage him. the mother contributing patience, judicious encouragement, and praise for a task successfully completed. The~ difficulties, the bad traits, the . lack of good habits which in older years are almost hopeless to deal with successfully, arise in the majority of cases from lack of training in the early years. This deficiency, unfortunately, usually occurs not from unkindness or neglect, but from misplaced parental solicitude, which strives to assist and protect the weak and handicapped one of the family, and instead deprives him of the essentials of his social training and hinders his adaptation to his future life.