HEALTH OF CHILDREN.

Otaki Mail, Volume XXVIII, 18 October 1920, Page 4

HEALTH OF CHILDREN.

Article Published under tlie authority of the Education Department.) ; ! Aa a beverage lor children tea ( should be prohibited. Up to the age , of ten years children should not be allowed to drink it. It stimulates the nervous system. The reverse is ! ■juired with children under preset; , conditions of life. Children are mo; ■ sensitive to stimulation and excite incut than adults. Again, tea is detrimental to the digestive system in children and up-•i-ls the regular action of important rgans. 1 Thirdly, tea interferes with th cleansing action o( the saliva aad ■■ | contributes tu dental decay. , Especially is this so when take j with cake and biscuit and tthie In-ad. and not followed by a cleansin food such as apple. The evil eifec aic more pronounced when the tea ha been allowed to infuse for too long ■ time, it, may be asked wlmt may be give, m children as a drink in place of tea Water, milk and water, and cocoa v finite suitable. Il should be borne ■ mind, however, that too much mb; ;,i;iv cause digestive trouble aa<l lo.— a!' appetite, for a healthy child on a a .11 balanced diet more than one pint of milk a diiv should not be gi veil a'o. ,

le s may suilicc. Kvcn if consideied only from the point of view of it- habit-producing effect irv after years, tea drinking ’should be proliibited till as lare an age as possible. The morning and a funnoon tea and t ake habit is not only it. the vast majority of eases wholly unnecessary ••■■and wasteful, but is d 1 eidvdly harmful. No healthy ind'» v-punl can elnini to require nourish ;>)(• *j| ;, s often a.- Ji'o or six times a day.