CHILD DEVELOPMENT

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20741, 27 February 1939, Page 4

CHILD DEVELOPMENT

LACK OF PROPORTION MODERATE EXERCISES NECESSARY MORE HARMONIOUS GROWTH I As already mentioned, many years of research work on the part of British, American and Continental medical and oilier scientists have shown that there is a great lack of proportion-in growth nnd development, in the case of most pre-school children. The body may grow tall, but the weigth and transverse dimensions do not increase at the same rate. However, when once correct nutrition has been adopted for the child including regular hours of sleep and rest, plenty of fresh air and sunshine, pure water and pleasant environment , physical exercise will accomplish a great deal in the way of broadening the chest, developing the muscles and encouraging each part of the body to adapt its functions to a greater efficiency and a more harmonious growth. At the pre-school age. the child is instinctively and irresistibly impelled In incesant movement and activity. The most perfect exercise for the child, at I his age, consists of free games, followed by adequate rest. This will provide all the physical education that the pre-school child needs, if lie is healthy to begin with. Five Years of Age At about 5 years of aige. one or two moderate (and natural) athletic exercises will benefit a healthy child, such as swimming, skating and running. There will be little danger of violating biological, physiological and psychological laws if these delightful exercises are permitted to a judicious extent. They will assist not only the child’s general health, founded on correct nutrition, hut also will facilitate the development of his general physical co-ordination and sense of balance. The child should be encouraged to walk and to run barefoot on grass and natural soil and sand, avoiding paving-stones, concrete or asphalt, which place a heavy strain on the arch of the foot. Before going on to the subject of physical education during school years, it may be appropriate to include a few findings m relation to general physical exercise for women of child-bearing ages. Naturally, all violent exercise should he avoided; and it has by no means been proved that excessive exercise can facilitate childbirth. On the contrary, the excessive development of a woman’s muscular system brings about a thickening of the hone-structure. This prevents the development of the pelvis, making it narrower than it should be, resembling the masculine shape. Moderate daily exercise, however (if nutrition is right) will keep the body fit and elastic, thus providing .he most perfect conditions for woman’s most vital function. For Perfect Births Women athletes are usually flatchested. Most of the women" taking part in the Olympic Games so far have been “ chestless ” and rather mannish, all round. By the way. all the women athletes who competed in the 800metre race at the Amsterdam Olympic Games collapsed in hysterics at the finishing-line! However, moderate exercise under right conditions, along with sensible nutrition, gives lovely curves to the female figure, and is an absolute essential to the health and beauty of all women and children. Girls and women delight from the start of life in true grace and beauty, and any exercise that appeals to this sense in them is good for them. Sports and games based on natural and graceful movements, such as swimming, running, dancing, rhythmic gymnastics and archery so long as they ; are not over-done, are all excellent for the future mothers of the race. Those ultra-modern women who intend to havo perfect figures and perfect babies can attain their goal by abiding by the laws of nutrition, for those laws include a moderate amount of physical exercise without exalting it into a fetish.