Evening star., 1902-02-01
A Ohild's Training and Physical De-
velopment.
DEFECTS SCIENTIFICALLY TREATED
No Necessity for Irregular or De-
fsctiye Teeth.
Why CHILD rem SQUINT

Copyright, 1902. by the S. s. Mcclure Co..
Written for The Evening Star by Katherine Morton
Children are beautiful bits Of promise.
They suggest the blossoms on the bough,
the unfolded LEAKAGE, the half-opened bud.
No mortal prescience can, with certainty,
indicate what they will be in their coming
day OF maturity; perhaps their beauty will
be OF the kind fit to live in song and story
and their charms those over which one
might imagine kingdoms torn In twain
II they are to be beautiful they must be
healthy, happy and contented. This, in
deed, will go far toward making them love-
ly. Children Of even weakly parents-not
actually diseased-who are brought up with
due regard to the principles that govern
health and growth have a better future be-
fore them than those of robust parentage
who are not so reared Their whole future
depends upon their physical development.
and in nothing is it of more Importance to
take time by the forelock than in the mat
ter of training children's bodies This care,
in childhood, never loses it's ultimate re-
ward, and saves much future trouble
Children get little good from what they
learn mechanically. Instead of wasting
too much time, therefore, over wands and
dumbbells, arouse the youngsters interest
by telling them that if they acquire the
proper carriage and department Of the body
they will be strong and agile, and by hold
Ing the body erect and straight will find 1t
easy to breathe in the right way, and then
have more endurance when playing tennis
basket ball, boot ball, or when running
Clothed in loose bloomer garments the
child should be taught how to turn the hips
inward and back; how to draw in the abdo-
men. lift the chest to its proper place, put
the chin back, and poise himself on the
balls of the feet, and not on the heels, so
that line dropped from the chest strikes
To fI,o L, l.
balls of the feet is not only tiresome but
the internal organs are thrown out of posi-
tion thereby.
Holding the Head Up.
''The upper point Of the forehead and the
most prominent part Of the chest the child
should be taught to hold uplifted, as If
trying to push up through the ceiling" is
the advice of one who speaks with authori-
ty. A college professor tells his boys that
If they want to form the habit of holding
their heads up it is good practice to try to
look over the tops of the carriages in the
streets while walking; the arms should
hang at the sides. Much awkwardness
would be overcome if children were taught
to let their hands fall easily as IL hung by
ropes, and not strained into straight posi-
ttons. What shall l do with my hands?'
asks child. Let them hang at the ends
of your arms, should be the reply.
Let all bending forward be done from the
hip joints, not from the waist The back
bone need not be bent in STOPPING to pick
up anything.
Movements for developing the chest
should be simple at first Reaching the
arms forward with palms touching, while
the breath is slowly inhaled through the
nostrils, gradually opening the arms, and
turning the palms upward, until the arms
are carried as far back as possible, is a
good movement. Another exercise for
chest development is to reach upward as
far as possible, draw down imaginary
ropes to the sides, and then carry them
back and upward.
Do not allow the children to sit without
support to their backs; encourage them to
rest the spine by lying back in a chair; and
once a day, after they have been exercis-
ing, make your children, both boys and
girls, lie fiat on the floor on sheet for
a half hour. This will save weak spines
and make fine figures.
Select Proper Chairs.
It is a matter Of great Importance
though seldom attended to by parents, to
select proper chairs for children, when they
first begin to use chairs. The seat should
be firm and regular, for If soft and low in
the middle, the chflds neck will be certain
to sink within it's shoulders, and its figure
to turn and become distorted from the
want of a uniform and solid support
Children should not be allowed to sit still
long at a time, if they do they will idget,
move restlessiy from side to side, and take
attitudes which may make them grow