OUR BABIES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20168, 9 June 1928, Page 6 (Supplement)

OUR BABIES

(By Hygeia). Published under the auspices of the Royal New Zealand Society for the Health of Women and Children (Plunket Society). “It is wiser to put up a fence at the top of a precipice than to maintain an ambulance at the bottom. ’ ’ THE TRAINING OF THE LITTLE CHILD. The following remarks are taken from a chapter on “The Older Child” in a book entitled “The Mothercraft Manual,’? by Miss Mabel Lididjiard. Miss Liddiard is matron of the Mothercraft Training Centre in London» a baby hospital and mothercraft home conducted on exactly the same lines as our New Zealand Karitane Hospitals. It is the successor to the institution founded by Sir Truby King in London at the close of the war. Miss Liiidiard has had very wide experience with babies and young children; her opinion is valuable and her advice very well worth following. Miss Liddiard says: ” The psychology of the child at this age is a very Jong and interesting study; this cannot be gone into at any length here. Remember that the nervous child, and nerve troubles so common in later life, arc very often the outcome of mis-management in early yeaks. In the ‘good old days’ talked of by our grandparents ‘children were

seen, not heard’ —an unnatural restraint was put upon them in the presence of their elders. To-day the pendulum has swung in the opposite direction, and in many homos the children are the centre of attraction, and the grown-ap folks ar«* ‘not hea*'".! ami are no ouiet; the uir pea*.’ 1 ru! time vben ibe e’uildrcn ia bed. Both exireiuPS t‘i' tlie aim must be to find the middle rotud. Self-Control. “ Self-eontrol. obedience, the recognition of authority, and, later, respect for elders, are all the outcome of the first vears ’ training, as emphasised in preceding chapters. The baby who is picked up or fed whenever he cries soon becomes a veritable tyrant, and gives his mother no peace when awake; while, on the other hand, the infant who is fed regularly, put to sleep, and played- with at definite times soon finds that appeals bring no response, and so learns that most useful of all lessons, self-control, and the recognition of an authority other than his own wishes. If parents and nurses would only realise how much easier it is for the child to bend to the social

and moral law> in later life when trained from infanuy, how much sorrow might be saved. “To train an infant for the first year is comparatively easy. but. after that the child begins ’o resent authority, and the conscientious mother .lias to be prepared to fight, and win along the line, in matters small and great. Sympathy and Understanding. “The person in charge of the little one at this time should cultivate an understanding of. and sympathy with, the fast-dieveloping mind; .he must have unlimited patience, .md:, above all. a discerning love. The wise rule of unselfish love always wins in the* best way. Physical Corullitions React on the Mental and Nervous State. {i Remember that general health is of vital importance. Irritability is often the outcome of in digest, on, overfeeding, and constipation. Give a properly balanced diet, and allow n«» sweets or scraps between moa's. It well-meaning friends give sweets, etc., nt of.-l- tires- lot it be a matter of course that these things must not. be eaten until meal times. As soon as the child is old enough, talk to him simply about this; a fairy story with a greedy fairy and sad results is the best illustration. Regular Habits. “A definite habit, as to an early daily evacuation of the bowels is especially important at this age, otherwise, when the child goes to school, it is often difficult, and chronic con stipation results. Make it a definite rule that at a certain time early in the day, preferably immediately after breakfast, the child goes to the lavatory. The one in charge must always find out as to whether the bowels have been opened or not. Any tendency to constipation should be overcome by diet and water drinking. Do not settle down to the frequent, use of aperients. * ‘As much time a> possible should be spent in the open air. Play in the ganden. park, or fields is really more beneficial than being taken for long walks or pushed about in a push chair. One daily walk is good, as the change of environment gives the child added interest. The rest of the day children should be trained to play for the most part alone, being wisely guidcdi by the 0n 4 .; in '-barge who s^‘ r »n a- enter into

all to • childish ‘make oelie* out fun*l* rnn Ihent as ‘stupid. I .:'iii!d. with an imagination lives a wooiderful life, and should be helped io follow all natural instincts wisely. “A definite daily rest must be insisted ”non. and then the little ones will not overtire themselves. They will rest as a matter of course when tired, following the natural instinct, always providing they are not being urged to plav noisy, excitable games by the elder children or grown up members of the family.

“A proper amount of sleep is very important. Children should not bo taken to evening entertainments oi kinemas for two reasons —first, the atmosphere of such places is far from ideal; and, secotvlly, the excitement is far too great for the young brain. “The temptation to keep the children up late in the summer time is a very great one. but if the little , one has been accustomed to go to bod at a

certain .hour from the beginning no protest will be made, and it will «H be accepted as a matter of course, providing kind, but mistaken, visitors do not suggest, in the child s hearing that it is hard lines. If possible, the mother or nurse should definitely plan a quiet game or fairy story as the last item before b« Jtinie.

Independence “As soon as children are old enough they should be. encouraged Io do little things for themselves. They should be taught to be prom! of being able to dress themselves, even though the process is a lengthy one. Little .household jobs, such as dusting, cleaning up, keeping cupboards tidy, can al! be made a pleasure. The nurse or mother should never get into the wav of <i*’in*! everything herself be cause it is quicker. Th© Futility of Threats. “Obedience must be quietly and firmly insisted upon from the very be ginning. Do not be dictatorial or un reasonable, but always mean what you say. For insta ce, it is very unwise to suddenly break up a game—warn that it is nearly bedtime, and so an. Never try to gain obedience by threats, such as of policemen or bogies. An instance of the, absurdity vt such a threat is given in the follow ing convers: tion overheard in Kew Gardens: —Mother: ‘Do as 1 tell you. or that man over there with a stick will hit you.’ Had the child refused tn obey the man with the stick woul'l not have hit him, and the next threat would have had no meaning. Ohe.l ence exacted by threats and bribery is of no value, and is, in fact, demoralis ing. “Always teach generosity from the beginning. Sweets should be shared: a really loved toy should occasional‘y be given to a child who has none. T<* give away only the toys that arc sha»« by and unwanted has no meaning, but to encourage the little one to wish to give away something valued tdaeh<‘real charily. “Little Pitchers Have Long Ears.” “Beware of talking before children, either about themselves or their playmates. or on subjects which arc unsuitable for children’s ears. So manv adults forget that children listen, understand. and dwell upon the topics ofconversation overheard, and often ge< an unnatural and wrong impression oC certain subjects. 'During tb«* rail 7 vev.s of ch.'-J r**? me mc-yt L'tioji un :he rapidly developing bra»«. roe.’ mother should from the beginning ter into all ehildisli hopes and tong / ings. The child should always fec.l free to talk of everything to tL< mother, being certain of no rebuff. an<4 of an understanding love and patience Such a mother continues to be the tniA. friend of her child throughout adole« cence and in later life.*'