"JAZZ CHILDREN"

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 56, 29 November 1937, Page 9

"JAZZ CHILDREN"

New Complexes of Modern Civilisation ENGLISH DOCTORS ALARMED i Children going to ' bed wltb. their muscles twitching to rhythm of the latest jazz tune is one o£ the causes of "nerves" afflicting an increasing number of infants to-day. English doctors are becoming alarmed at the sight of all their young patients. They believe that the quicken* ed pace of modern life is creating a new race of highly-strung children whoso physical reserves are being sapped. The Medical Officer of Health at Enfield, after investigating the problem, has discovered several causes of nervous strain peculiar to modern life. "Listlessness," his report declares, "was frequently caused by long evenings spent in tap-dancing rehearsals and performances, which exact toil the next day." j One leading Harley street nerve ; specialist informed a reporter that ia | 35 years' practice he had never had so ' many children among his patients. Here are some of the "do's" and "don'ts" he detailed for parents. Don 't be too exacting with them over their schoolwork. Keep a close supervision over the books they read, not too much highlydramatised stuff. Choose carefully the type of films or plays they see. Provide them with some quiet and i homely hobby or interest. ; And don't leave them for long period3 i "on their own" — especially at night, ! while you go off and enjoy yourselves. Hundreds of children have become nervy through being left in the house by themselves. "It is the parents who ar'e most to blame," he declared. "They are living at a faster pace themselves and they communicate the quickened tempo of life to their children. "These young people are brought up in an atmosphere of excitement. "And at school a much highec standard of work is expected of them than ever before. "The spirit of competition is being too deeply instilled into them alscf. Children are constantly being urged to greater efforts to beat their fellows at work and on the sports field. "The rosult is a ehild who is conlinually working and playing at the j peak of excitement." - -4