HOME HEALTH GUIDE

Chronicle (Levin), 11 June 1947, Page 2

HOME HEALTH GUIDE

the Department of Health.)

CHILDREN MUST G-ET DIRTY

(By

If a child is liealthy he is on the go all the time. As soon as crawling begins he starts off on explorations, in whatever room he inay be. If it is the kitehen the pot eupboard is a great attraction for there is a variety of noisy things there. And of course he'll get dirty. As he grows to toddler age and ^ets out of doors, are you going to keep him away from water and earth, or sand for play and good old mud pies? Of course you're not. But he'll wear old clothes aud get really dirty. Somewhere about the first birthday he begins to try to feed himself with a _ ppoofij and right up to the second .birthiday this learning to eat will go on. He will take mueh longer and he will make a lovely mess at times, but he has to gp through this stage. And so here's another time he will get dirty. _ , j Then mother declaims: "I wish;-my boy was a clean little fellow iike yours, ' ' either the clean ■ one has been dressed up for company, or there is something wrong with him. A lively, healthy youngster is going to get dirty many times during the day. No child should get into trouble because he has become dirty through play. Give them suitable clothes to get dirty in. Give them a daily warm bath before the evening meal for the toddlers and small, children, and before bed for the older ones. Or if they have a morning tub, then a thorough clean up of legs and arms and face instead of the evening bath. As well, see that they always wash hands and face before each meal, and never omit washing hands after visiting the lavatory. And when "visitors are due, skip the party elothes. Let them be at play. They will be good then. You will enjoy your tea-party better, and won't make that • mistake of foeussing attention on a child that ' makes them preeocious and naughty..