The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1905-01-15
Care and Training of Children.

geStiOn that the physician mas auVlSeu
me to allow him no candy, cookies or
other sweets. But when | refuse him
these, he kicks and screams until
have to give them to him. Could you
suggest some method of treatment or
something l might use as a substl-
tute for the sweetmeats which would
satisfy his appetite without being in
furious to him?"
1t is the duty of every mother to
do that which is best for her child's
health, regardless of the kicking and
screaming. If mother yields to her
child because he kicks and screams,
then the child has conquered and he
soon learns to make things come his
way by this method, while on the
other hand, if she stands firm and
lets him know that his kicking and
screaming are of no avail, he will soon
learn that it doesn't pay for the ex-
ertion it takes. Every mother should
have some knowledge of physiology
and if she has never had an oppor-
tunity to take it up, she should pro-
cure some reliable work upon the sub
iect and make it study. The first
few wears of a child's life are of the
greatest importance in regard to his
physical as we'll as his moral train
ing. Make your child physically
strong and ten to one he will be cas-
lily controlled. A depraved appetite
and a disordered stomach are the
prime causes of depraved mind and
an unruly nature. A child's stomach
is a very delicate organ and II 1t be-
comes diseased and sour by improper
feeding the child will be cross and
as sour as his stomach. Some moth
ers feed a child as they would fire.
box, by scooping in almost anything
at hand just so long as there is any
room for fuel. If the appetite has not
been damaged by careless feeding,
nature will in a great measure teach
a child what food to accept or reject
Yet we cannot rely entirely upon ma
ture. We must have a knowledge OF
what is best for child to eat. Then
be firm and not pacify the mind and
injure the digestion by giving the
child what we know to be harmful to
him. Give child plenty of good,
wholesome food, avoiding spices,
beverages, and sweetmeats, to insure
a healthy stomach. Plenty of good
fresh air and sunshine to insure good
lungs. Withhold candy and sweetmeats
to insure good health. If child is
given good teeth, perfect digestion and
strong lung-power he has every chance
to develop into a robust man. II a
child refuses to eat do not over-per-
suade him to do so "to please mama.
If nature Graves no food and it is
forced upon her the result is obvious
nature is overtaXed-while if allowed
to go without food, nature will throw
off the indisposition.
| once heard a mother say that she
simply could not deny her children
candy or other sweetmeats when they
cried for them, nor compel them to-
obey her, because she loved them so
much; she couldn't bear to oppose
hem in anything. | thought it strange
hat love should lead mother to do
or to leave undone those things which
we're for the physical and moral well
are of her children. If our children
we're only animals, with no soul to|
save, it would, even then be our duty
O endeavor to promote strong,
healthy physical growth. How much
;reater, then, is our responsibility
When we consider that the training
re now give them not only affects
bair nbucino1 bOdiar hut their atarnal