READY FOR SCHOOL?

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 35, 11 February 1939, Page 3

READY FOR SCHOOL?

STUDYING THE HEALTH OF CHILDREN BEGINNING THEIR FIRST YEAR, With the opening of a new school year our thoughts naturally turn to the health of the young children who will begin their school career. The number of children entering school with correctable physical defects, faulty health habits and other causes responsible for poor classroom work, should stimulate parents to see that their children’s health condition is satisfactory when they trip off with “their satchel and shining morning face" to answer the first school bell. The problem is more than just the correction of abnormal conditions just before school begins, it is the problem of intelligent health supervision from the earliest moment of life. With adequate pre-natal care and thorough supervision during infancy, children two years of age should be free from preventible health handicap. That means that they are in good nutrition, have sound teeth, sleep and rest regularly, eat plenty of the right kind of food and play happily and vigorously out of doors ir. the sunshine.

Our responsibility during the next few years is to capitalise on this excellent start by bringing him up to school age in such condition that there is not the anxiety and need for hurried correction ot defects. The points to bear in mind during this intervening period between infancy school age are, that: His regular health habit regime is continuea. He still sleeps and naps regularly, continues to enjoy his meals and welcomes the wholesome outdoor play and companionship of other children. He has prompt and adequate medical attention during illness. His environment is controlled to prevent harmful influences from affecting his development, such as faulty heating and ventilation of the home, prevention of needless exposure to infections (common cold included). He receives regular dental supervision. Experience shows that many of the defects of school children have their origin during the first six years ot life and so how important it is for parents to train up their children in the laws of health. Long before the time has come for entrance to school every normal child should be perfectly adept in putting on their own clothes. AH children should be trained early in independence and sell care. When they enter the primary school and commence to climb the steep hill of academic learning theii social education should be well advanced.

If the education of the young child has been thorough and successful, the day he goes to school his mother should be able to say to herself:

"My child is physically and mentally healthy, his body is straight and strong, he sees and hears well, his teeth are sound and well kept, his nose and throat are in a healthy condition, he has good habits of eating and sleeping, he is independent of outside assistance in looking aftei his possesions and in self-care generally, he is self-reliant, will adapt himself to his new life without my help, and he is ready and anxious to make new friends and nlaymates. ’ (Contributed by the Department of Health.)