Milford chronicle., 1932-04-22
HOME EDUCATION
"Thc ChiId's First School Is the
Family"-FTOebcl
Mrs. Nestor Noel

Mrs. Nestor Noel
/ Mothers whether on farms or i'm
cities are always very busy. In spite
of this il a child is i'll the mother
does not like to leave him much
alone. At any minute he may need
her. have found it help to give
the child either a toy trumpet or Il
tiny bell with a rather loud tinkle.
The child loves to sound this, and if
in answer to summons, mother is
there almost instantly, you can see
for yourselves that it makes sick
ness a little less irksome for the
girl or boy.
When the child has an illness
which is not contagious and visitors
are allowed one needs to be careful
that they do not stay too long. l
remember when | lived on farm
some kindly noighbOrs came to sec
me when [ was ill and stayed over
an hour. | was worn out. A child
gets tired much more quickly than
an adult and has little reserve pa
ticnce, so if visitors are desired by
the child, it is the mothers part to
see that they do not tire the invalid.
1t is easy to send visitors away when
il is not you they have come to see!
Another thing: 1t is tantalizing to
sick child to have toys just out of
reach. To help prevent this, | ad-
wise that only a few playthings be
in the room at any one time. They
should be changed often, and the
change should usually he made while
the child is asleep. However, Il toy
should not be removed if its alb
scnco is likely to cause disappoint-
mcnt.
Does the child want you to read
aloud? If SO, see to it that what
you read is short, not firing. Read
ing is good up to a certain point. II
will help to distract the child from
himself, but do not get so interested
in what you are reading as to forget
that the child may get tired before
you do and even before he knows
that he is tired
One should not talk about child's
illness before him, thinking he does
not understand. Children under
stand much more than We realize.
We should try to give our own child
credit for a little common sense.
Probably you have read the story in
which the following incident occurs:
Someone, using the French word for
cripple, mentions that the boy, who
is ill in bed, will be cripple for life.
When the father enters the room the
boy asks the meaning of the French
word, and the man, knowing nothing
of the child'S reason for asking, tells
him. With what dire results this is
done the story reveals for our edifi-
cation. | have heard people say of
a sick child. "He does not under |
stand" "He does not hear" DO not /
take risks. Children are not only /
quick to comprehend but they can
add TO what they understand from
their glorious store of imagination.
Talking in whisper is another !
aggravation which upsctS the child /
invalid just as il does the adult.
DO not ask the child what he wants .
to cat If you have taught him prop .
er eating habits they will now help .
him to get well. A dainty meal on
n pretty plate will be eaten when .
there is an appetite. If there is no .
appetite it will usually do little /
good to try to force the child to .
take food, and the results of such
forcing arc often very bad. Nature
is quite dependable. When the child
refuses to cat it is good rule to
take the tray from his room at once.
Leave insistance on eating to some-
lne wiser than yourself.
One more suggestion: do not wear
I long face, however sick your child
s Look cheerful whatever you feel.
You may cure a child by your
;heeriness.