SELF-RELIANCE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 July 1938, Page 4

SELF-RELIANCE

AND THE DELICATE CHILD. Self-reliance has to be taught all over again to the child whose illhealth has necessitated close dependence on mother. Morning school, at least, should be begun as soon as possible. There the delicate little daughter of the house will become just another little Ann or Mary like every other little girl in the class. There will be inevitable breaks in attendance or interruptions in routine for days when ill-health gets the upper hand or when the weather is not fit tor a delicate child to venture out, but treat these breaks as lightly as possible. Gradually, as the child grows older, the regular, disciplined life of the schoolroom will exercise its beneficial effect, and absences will become fewer and fewer. Do not force a sick child to do lessons, but be guided by your own experience of the child’s appearance when she is not well rather than by her own arguments. A mother soon gets to know the warning signal. It may be .listlessness or noisiness, a change of colour, a look in the eyes or a droop of the head or a broken night’s rest that suggests that a child is “offcolour,” and it is a surer guide than such a remark as, “I’ve got a headache today. Need I have my music lesson?” It may be easier, npw to give in to a delicate child, but remember that you are building for what you hope will be the healthy future, and not for the difficult present.