Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1900-09-22
Keeping Record of the Baby's Growth

Keen ping Record of the Baby's Grow tin.
Don't you keep record of your ba-
by's growth and Developments qucricd
one woman of another, recently.
- never thought Of such Il thing, WIS
the reply. What would be the use, any
way
Your own pleasure, partly; the delight
Of the child itself when it is old enough
to understand and to appreciate the little
'jary of its doingS, for another, and. if
you choose to contribute your mite
toward il, through your record, the fun
Ihcring of the study Of psychology"
There isn't mother whose children
have grown up out of her arms who does
not wish she had kept the story OF their
babyhood and early childhood in some
such systematic manner. Very few moth
ers. even now. are In the habit of per
forming the simple and reasonable duty
Of keeping nursery note book.
II one has had i scientific training. au,i
is inclined to be extremely methodicnl
and pninStaking, Il daily record may be-
made of the advance Of the littlt. one in
the development of the perCeptive facul-
ties in the acquisition of language ana
the taking on uf those habits which make
him come little nearer TO the standard
Oi what an intelligent being attaipS
through imitation of the models put ne-
fore him
Such Il series of observations. carrie
lnto the most trivial details, and related
with minutencsS. would be- very satisfy
'ng, 1t is not for the pedagoguc and psy,
chologlst that the mother keeps her
nurScry records. 1t is for her own iii
SlrnctlGn ana guidance, and for her own
pleasure us well.
Facts bearing upon physical yarIS-
toms are extremely valuable and ii Is
wise to notc the growth and weight Of
child ut regular intervals. to ascer-
tam whether or not he is developing nor
maity. Even more important are, obscrv
ationS upon his general health. temppru-
Uncut, disposition aud the use he makes
Of his faculties.
Although the mother herself may not
Dc aware of the standard he should at
tain. her statement Of facts may give the
clue 10 the physician when puzzlng
symptoms show themselves.
Oftcnrr than mothers imagine deaf
ness and defects of the sight might have.
been prevented IL the early Signs uf their
approach had been needed
note book of this sort. begun as soon
as possible after n child is horn, will be
profitable employment for Il mother to
occupy herself with during her leisure
hours. II is pleasant to know when baby
hrst becomes conscious of sound, when
"'llNltAN tlltSN 10 llEHl ulallllCNIN itself,
and to watch the gradual awakening of
the sleeping senses of young human
being who enters life So inert ana help
less, Women who have hut slight knowl-
edge of the science Of life MAY yet learn
enough in short time Ia make the
growth - a child as interesting as Il
drama,
And il the early days Of a bahys life
are SO fun of interest, how much more
fascinating the pretty play becomes as
The baby develops individuality and he
gins that lisping language which is his
first attack upon that barrier that di-
yidoS him from the grown-up world.
Beside all this. Keeping nursery note.
book is one Of the best ways of keeping
in mind the fact that children are not
4 different species frum ourselves nor alI
infercr species, hul Gully un@rowu men
aud women. with the faults ami virtues
of their kind, subject Ia moods. fun oi
rccenIricitiCS, aud in need &C l.uicnl
Judgment in regard to their actions.
Children are human. hat the Tendency
Is 10 treat them like machines. in sub
uniting them To- the sUeculatvuS or the
pedaEogist~. Boston Herald