REARING AND TRAINING OF CHILDREN.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1058, 6 April 1882, Page 4

REARING AND TRAINING OF CHILDREN.

Every mother should bear in mind that it is easier to keep children well than it is to cure them after they become ill. A few simple rules, faithfully and unflinchingly observed, will banish nine-tenths of the sickness among children that too often leads to fatal results. Give them in the first place—expression of love 1 Oftentimes fathers and mothers deeply love their children, yet show such little evidence of affection that the children are apt to have a forlorn feeling that it doesn’t exist at all. An occasional word of praise, a caress an expression of sympathy—these are as necessary to healthy and happy child-life as summer showers to growing vines. Especially bear this in mind—they should never go to bed cold, hungry, or unhappy. Let them have plenty of healthy and palatable food, at regular hours. Small children should have a slice of bread and butter, or an apple, or some simple “ bite,” half-way between meals and nothing more in the way of lunches It is the constant nibbling and piecing that does harm. Never force a child to eat anything he has a real dislike for. When plain food is declined because of the more tempting desert ahead, it is a different affair ; but I have seen little children compelled to eat things, when every mouthful would be swallowed with tremendous effort and genuine disgust. Some of us have an utter abhorrence of onions or tomatoes, or codfish, or some articles of food that ought to be relished. How would we like to have some mighty giant put sach food on our plates, and compel us to eat amid wild flourishes of his knotted club ? Would we sweetly feel that the dear giant knew what was the best for us, and proceed to swallow every mouthful ? or would we say to ourselves—** We’ll eat it because we must, but we hate it all the same, and we hate you too I” Children have as much right to their likes and dislikes as we have to ours.