The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1933-11-28


merely standing straight. It is
the use Of all parts Of the body
with proper balance, with ease
and grace.
Art Of Alignment
When one views the body as a
machine the relationship be-
tween posture and health can be
readily understood. An automo-
bile with one wheel out Of align.
ment does not run properly.
When the body is out of bal.
ance it, too, fails to function
to the fullest. Some part is likely
to be pushed or pulled out of it's
normal groove and must, hence,
work under strain.
The growing body OF the child
Is particularly sensitive to this
strain. And habits u poor pos
ture once acquired are apt to
nnger throughout not only child
hood, but life.
Lessons in proper balance OF
the body should begin in in
fancy. The mother should re-
member that even in the cradle
her baby is learning and acqulr-
ing either good or bad habits.
Flat "Tummy"
The mother must not expect,
however, the very little child to
have the same type Of posture
as its older brother or sister.
For example, an infant just
learning to walk is at an age
when its abdomen is more prom
inent than it will be later.
All babies have bodies Of
little gargoyles. The muscles
Of the abdomen have not &C
quired sufficient strength to
keep the little "tummy" flat.
This does not mean, however,
that a too protrudent abdomen
is not a serious matter and one
that should be taken up with
the baby's physician.
BY the time the child is five
or six years Of age the abdom-
inal muscles should h ave
grown sufficiently strong to
keep the abdomen flat.
Strong Muscles
Habits of good posture are
learned gradually as the child
learns to control its body.
First as an infant it learns to
sit up, to creep, to take a few
steps and then to walk.
Throughout these stages it is
learning slowly to hold its body
In balance.
All through childhood it
continues to learn this lesson.
How well the lesson is learned
depends largely on the strength
Of the muscles that hold the
body erect.
since poor posture and its
resultant ills are often in the
child who is overfatigued and
undernourished the first step
in insuring habits of good pos
ture is to see that the growing
child does not undergo undue
physical strain and that his
diet insures proper nutrition.
The muscles Of the poorly
nourished, overtired body can
not be expected to hold the
body erect. An adequate we'll
balanced diet, long hours OF
sleep at night, rest during play.
time, outdoor exercise and
sunlight all play their part.
Proper Clothing
Clothing, too, is important.
The child cannot develop prop
erly unless his body is free to
grow normally. Clothing should
be planned to allow freedom for
growth and should not exert
too great pressure on any bone
or tissue.
If the child is to learn to
stand well. his shoes and stock
ings must fit properly. The
child should sleep, whenever
possible, in a bed by itself.
Spring and mattress should be
firm and flat, permitting the
child to lie perfectly flat.
Since the posture problems
Of the infant and child are diff
ferent we will discuss them
further in separate articles. To-
morrow we will go into detail Of
proper exercises for the infant.
Later we will discuss a number
Of simple little lesson games
that will help the older child
20 learn the proper control Of
It's body.