HINTS FOR MOTHERS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 215, 16 October 1909, Page 3

HINTS FOR MOTHERS.

Fruit is fur more useful taken before than after n meal. NuU should not lie given to children under ten years of age, as they are very dillicult to digest. The habit of climbing is most useful to children of both sexes, as it givos them nerve and courage. No day filiould pass but what boys and girls .should enjoy a thoroughly noisy game, whether indoors or out. Many it slight childish indisposition is aggravated "by the tendency mothers have to stuff their children with food as a remedy for all ills. Little girls are very fond of climbing, and filiould there happen to be trees within reach, there is no reason why they shouM not be allowed to indulge in it equally as much as their brothers. Do not force a child lo eat what it has expressed a genuine dislike for. There can be no possible good iu insisting that tlie child filiould take what it considers distasteful food, for if eaten indigestion will not doubt iirise.

For half an hour after each meal children should be encouraged to rest quietly, ami, however great their inclination 'to dash off and continue their games, they must be taught to restrain themselves' while their food is allowed to settle.

Children of both sexes, if in good health, arc equally fond of noisy, rough games. t nulling and shouting, and antics of nil kinds which tend to strengthen their muscular system*, to develop their lungs, and improve I heir blood supply.

A rug on the lloor is tin. best place for young 'children to play, as rolling and kicking about strengthens the whole of their body.

■ If a chilli has a distaste for the milk and egg prescribed for it l>y the doctor, dash a little vanilla into it, and the child will lie better able to overcome its dislike.

Never bribe a child to cease from an irritating liabit. The child thus dealt with loses its respect for its parent, and is iiuTiued to make a slave of her even.tnallv.

Hoys should be allowed personal liberty, williiii certain limits, of course. They should be encouraged and allow id to share the common sports of boys of their own age.

To endeavor to stimulate children'.appetites is not always wise. If tli.-y have not good appetites it is an indie i lion that there is something wrong, ami tlie cause should be discovered and remedied.

The value of fruit as an article of diet for children is largely underrated by most English mothers, though they have no objection to dosing them with all kinds of medicines more or less noxious.

Stow eating should lie encouraged in children, who must be taught to bite each mouthful thoroughly .-.as the saliva ■which is mixed with the food renders it easy to swallow' and helps in its diges tion.

To keep a boy tied to his mother's apron-strings is conducive to mollycoddlism. Compare the n-liild of the streets who is self-reliant and the boy who is kept pretty much at Jiome with his mother and sisters, who Vcomcs flahby because ho luis not, been sufficiently buffeted about to develop his grit and vigor.