THE PRE-SCHOOL CHILD.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18498, 20 February 1930, Page 10

THE PRE-SCHOOL CHILD.

HEALTH PROTECTION NECESSARY. (Contributed by Department of Health). In New Zealand there are 105,187 children ranging from two to five years of age, and the protection of their health is a problem of fiist importance for it is during infancy and childhood that those life habits are formed which are responsible for health, character and personality for to quote Socrates, “In every work the beginning is the most important, especially in dealing With anything young and tender.” The responsibility of parents is great and to assist them in healthy upbringing of children various agencies have been established such as the Antenatal Clinics, Plunket Societies, School Medical Service etc.

By a systematic supervision beginning during the ante-natal period ana continuing throughout infancy and childhood there will be a continuous record of the child’s health and development from before birth to adolescence. Not only are we concerned with the production of a perfect child, however, but also to provide him a wholesome environment in those early years which make uo the critical period of growth and development.

Parents’ Responsibility. Whatever qualities a child inherits may be modified either to his advantage or disadvantage. It is parents who make his environment to a large extent and who most powerfully influence his destiny, for the age under five is the

crucial age psychologically as well as physically. The home is the workshop in which the character and personality are moulded by the formation of habits. It is necessary, therefore, to provide for the whole period of childhooa those conditions which are most favourable for the perfect development of mind and body. Such fundamental requirements are sunshine and pure air, food and water, waripth and protection, sleep and rest, freedom and exercise. A happy smile, and one of thp common lessons of every day experience is that of a plant which grows strong and vigorous and produces a wealth of bloom and fruit, when the soil, water and sunshine are adapted to its requirements. When the conditions are unfavourable it will grow spindly and weak and produce few and stunted blossoms and fruit. In addition special care must be devoted to the removal of weakness or defect by attention in Its early stages. One great purpose of our ante-natal clinics, the infant we l fare centre, is to instruct mothers in the primary essentials of hygienic living. It is a well known fact that good mothers do not necessarily come rHo the world ready made and that thp instinct of motherhood is not of itself a sufficient equipment for the satisfactory nufure and unbringing of a family. Knowledge and training in the essentials ui mothercraft is of vital importance.

Kindergartens. The modern kindergarten does much valuable work in the interest of the pre-school child. In the environment provided he lives a life of joyous ictivity where healthy interest is quickened and energy wisely directed and where also his body is subjected to a wholesome regime of work and rest and play. In the kindergarten schools,'as in the home, a sure foundation for the child's education may be laid. The medical supervision of children attending these schools carried out by the Department of Health’s School Medical Service ensures a higher standard in the physical condition of children entering the elementary schools. In certain districts arrangemetns have been made whereby parents may bring pre-school children for examination by the School Medical Officer.

Infectious Diseases. A harmful doctrine held by manv mothers is that all children must have the common infectious diseases and therefore may as well be exposed to infection in order to l ave them over while young. This idea is quite erroneous, since any illness, however, brief and slight is a hinderance to growth and may mean premanert impairment to some organ or function of the body. There is an urgent need for guarding the pre-school child against infectious disease, since it has been estimated in New Zealand a larger percentage of illnesses from these diseases occur under five years of age and many of these such as diphtheria, whooping cough, and measles are the cause of chronic illnesses of adult life. When cases of such infectious diseases occur in the home, children should be carefully safeguarded from infection. Children who have just iecovercd from certain infectious diseases, such as scarlet fever and diphtheria, sometimes carry the germs in ‘heir noses and throats, so that for two or three weeks after release from quprnrrirtp the child should sleep by hse'f if possible and certainly should not s’een with other children. ]f thp rrber children have been sent nm ov f-nm home during the course cf U is advisable not to let thpm ret-i.-rs Lorre until a week has elapsed alter quarantine has been lifted.