The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1934-03-28
Child Guidance
by
Frank Howard Richardson
M. D.. F. A. c. P. =,
Black Mountain, N. C., and
Brooklyn. N. Y.
THE DAILY NAP

How old must my cnllu DC pe-
fore we can safely do away with
the daily nap is a question that is
frequently asked the children,s
doctor. Frequently the question is
answered quite decisively and con-
clusively by the child himself, who
firmly refuses to sleep, IN spite OF
the most heroic efforts on the
part of his conscientious mother.
Ny own feeling is that ninety
would be about old enough;
though if a nonagenarian were
wise enough to wish to continue
his daily nap. I certainly shouldn't
hinder him in what I believe to
be a most valuable health conserv-
ing measure. Edison used to take,
not only one daily nap, but sew
eral, up to the time Of his death,
am told; and it certainly didn't
impair his thinking processes.
On the other hand, l seriously
doubt the value Of any nap or
rest (?) period which is observed
only at the price of battle of
wills that lasts the whole period
through. When a child takes a
nap only because he is forced to
do so. and feels seriously ill-treat-
ed because Of the fact, then / am
inclined to believe that it does
more harm than good, and had
better be given up.
The great value Of the routine
nap, of course, lies less in the ac-
tual sleeping time it adds, than
in the break or letdown in the ten
sion under which most of us pur-
sue the days avOcations. If this
let-down is valuable for adults,
how much more so is it for the
less stable emotional equipment
of the child!
The daily nap is we'll worth re-
taining-until it costs too much,
in effort, to get it!
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
QUESTION: Dear DR.. Richard
son: I want help in dealing with
14-year-old boy who does not
take any interest in things worth
while, but plays mostly with
younger boys. He learns easily,
but refuses to concentrate. He
shows no interest in his fathers
pursuits either.
ANSWER: If this lack of inter-
est has come on recently, I am in
clined to attribute it to the letting
up Of speed that is a normal char
acteristic of adolescence. Even if
it is of longer standing. l should
not worry about it. l should GER
tainly not reproach him for his
low marks in school-aIl that will
accomplish, is to make him dis
like school still further. Try prais-
ing him instead, for the few
things that you can find that he
does well.
QUESTION: Ny fourteen-year-
ora son used to tell me every
nttie thing that happened; all his
7, W., "IdI TIC l1OuynJ ana
ie!C about everybody and every
thlng' OF late he has become Sc
cretlve and uncommunicative: and
resents my attempts to draw him
OUT ABOUT his feelings toward his
ta1S I l think a boy ought to
v ygm MS mother everything, don't
Wa. AN ,ot' No, I do not. What
was was natural and desirable for a
! 10y, poy up to the age of 12 Or ~
YOU'D be most undesirable when
ne grew to be fourteen, if ho w wern
TO persist in it. Fortuna+ lG were ERE
mn ella. and for you, your son d did
not from now on, let him tato u nfi
the initiative in the ma ~, tene an al
co mn Be ready to receiV VI
i on nI. w When they come; but, don,t
ship may become even finer t lion,
the old, if you will let if er than