TRAINING OF MOTHERS

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19887, 16 May 1936, Page 24 (Supplement)

TRAINING OF MOTHERS

DOCTOR’S SUGGESTION. Why not start the training of mothers in the nursery through the medium of the doll? This the the suggestion of Dr. A. Ferguson, an English Medical Officer of Health. In his annual report he says—“We must train a new type of mother —one who Avill forget her mother’s training, and who will become more naturally scientifloallyminded. The training should start in early life. This can be done easily in Hie day nurseries and in the nursery schools, and in the infant classes, and is should be possible to reach the correct playing with dolls oil the lines of real infant care. “The most receptive age, in my opinion, is from 13 to IG, or even i earlier, and here is the finest opportunity of Instilling the lessons of motherhood into the future generation of mothers- During the last two years of school life all girls should be taught what motherhood means. They should be taught that childbirth is a perfectly safe and natural process; that nature rebels against being interfered with', generally with disastrous results. (Continued in next column.)

“The lesson should emphasise that all processes are natural and safe, for I am afraid that, if the publicity of j the dangers of child-bearing remains in its present, intensity it will defeat, fts object. The future mother must look forward to child-bearing with