The Red Cloud chief., 1881-01-13
The Care Of Young Children.

The Care Of Young Children.
FASHION. that stern task-mistress,
that Moloch 10 whom so MANY children
have been sacrificed in bygone DAYS. fol
once asserted her influence on the side
OF common sense when she decreed
that their necks, arms and legs should
be protected by proper clothing. \
few years ago it was not an uncommon
sight TO see a mother warmly dressed,
in thick wooden, fur-trimmeI garments.
leading by the hand a child daintily ar.
rayed in a short frock with 4 least two
inches of its poor little les uncovered
between the edge OF its drawers and
the top Of its tiny white socks: or in
doors TO see plump necks and rounded
arms exposed to an atmosphere which
adults could meet only when swathed
to neck and wrists. Happily this alb
surd custom is a thing of the past, and
one can only trust it never may be re-
vived. The error 10Y is rather in the
other extreme. While children should
be warmly dressed, particularly when
going into the open air. care should be
taken not TO overload them with cloth
ing. The sweat glands are very active
in youth, and if over-stimulated by
heat, become infiamed, producing heat
rash.
Light wooden materials should be
used in winter and coiors selected that
will wash when necessary. The gar
ments should be so made as not 10 i'm
pede the freest use of the limbs.
Healthy children require n great deal of
exercise, and should be encouraged to
play vigorously and shout Justify for
some time every morning in the open
air. They will be much more ready TO
play quietly in the nursery during the
remainder OF the day than if they had
been taken for a dccorou> wal, which
is simply useless, "a exercise for the
young muscles that need strengthening
and developing. If perfectly well they
should be SEM out in al weather. ex-
cept when ii is absolutely raining. Then
they should have on part of their out
door clothing, be sent into a room
where the windows are open, and made
to play tag, puss-in-the-corner, or N
active indoor game, for half IN hour or
more. Nothing is so fatal to children
as bad ventilation. Their bedroom
windows should invariably be open at
night; if there is any fear of a draught
a light frame made to fit the window
with flannel tackled on each. side of it
will admit fresh air and obviate the
difficulty.
No garment that has been worn dur
ing the day should be suffered to re-
main on during the night. A cotton
night-dress is all that is necessary in
summer. In winter, or if the child has
a delicate chest. or is subject to Group,
a scarlet flannel jacket may be added.
Children should be thoroughly bathed
from head to foot every morning in
cold or. tepid water. Nothing does
nor to promote a healthy action of the
skin and make the complexion clear and
fresh than thorough daily additions.
The greatest attention should be paid
to the care of the teeth. Until a child
is old enough to use a brush they should
be washed with a soft rag dipped incoOl
water at least twice a day.
The hair should be well brushed with
a soft brush and never touched with a
fine comb, which, as wellasa stiff brush,
causes disease of the scalp. 1t should
be cleansed by washing in warm water
to which a little borax has been added,
with plenty of white soap, and thor
oughly rinSing with clear water. The
hair grows from the head, ocutting the
ends can do no possible good. If it
splits at the ends it is owing to a de-
iiciency of natural oil, and NAV be rem
edied by using a little sweet oil. 1t is
a popular fallacy that the extreme
growth of hair tends to weaken the
system. Ii it is cut nature will produce
fresh hair more quickly. thus increas-
ing instead of lessening the strain on the
productive powers.
Children require plenty of heaithful,
substantial, nourishing food; they not
only have to repair the daily waste of
the system but also to create new bone
and muscle every day. An infant
should have food at first once in two
hours during the day and four at night.
When older. once in four hours will be
sufficient. Young children should have
a bowl Of bread and milk, or at least a
cup of milk, on first waking in the
morning, if any length of time elapses
between their rising and the regular
breakfast. They can be taught to like
almost anything if its use is begun suffi-
GENTLY early. Oatmeal porridge is an
excellent article of diet; it may be
varied by hominy, boiled rice, porridge
of white or yellow Indian meal. etc.
Soft-boiled eggs are also good. Tender,
juicy, breiled beefsteak and roast beef
or roast mutton are better than lamb OF
veal, as they contain more nutriment.
Well-made soups and broths and fresh
vegetables are never out of place. SIM
Pile buildings should be substituted for
pastry, which children never should be
allowed to touch. The supper should
consist of bread and milk. or bread and
butter, with a slice of plain cake. Tea
and coffee had better be dispensed with
effect of going without them will be
seen in a healthy nervous system. Ripe
fruit may always be eaten with impuni-
ty by a child who is perfectly well. The
earlier in the day ID is taken the better.
As little sugar and cream as possible
should be used with it. 1t is needless |
to say that the consumption of candy is
more honored in the breach than in the
observance.
This may seem diet of more than
Spartan simplicity o many an indulgent
mother; but if she will Danish hot
bread, fried meat, tea. coffee and pastry |
from her ehildren's bill of fare their |
rosy cheeks, firm limbs and perfect
digestions will give her no cause to re-
greet her decision. Miss E. Il. Seoul, IN
Nristion Union.
IT has been decided in England to
young culprits instead Of send
ing them to work houses.
A xor-Nc mon d;ed of Hart d;soaso ~ l