Evening star., 1937-08-18
Trailing Trailing Over the Bounding Roads New Version Son
Age Needs
Protection
Health Routine Re
uuired to Guard Chill
dren From Danger.
BY ANGELO PATRI.


DE A little considerate Of children
who are In the leggy stage Of
growth. They are having very un-
comfortable time because they have
grown faster than they can adjust
themselves to the new growth. They
are still thinking in terms of their
former short legs and arms, and that
Is what is making them so clumsy.
Knocking against things, stumbling
over door sills and mats, letting things
fall out of their hands are evidences
of mistaken calculations. The new
co-ordinations required by new growth
have not been made, and until they
are made, until the child's mind and
body are more under control, these
things must happen.
Then scolding is out of order. These
children are very sensitive and the
slightest word wounds them. They
suffer under unkindly glances, up
raised eyebrows and knowing smiles.
Many of them cry themselves to sleep
at night remembering the trials of
the day, none of which they could
master. try as they might. Their faces
are crimson in the darkness as they
think of the mistakes they have made
and the punishment they received
for making them. They don't under
stand it, and they feel that life is
very hard on them. And it is.
We have to remember that these
children do not know what they are
suffering because they have not the
proper control of themselves. They
think they are doing everything as
It ought to be done and cannot see
why they blunder and bring down
such criticisms upon their heads.
They are truly doing their best. 1t is
surprise to them when the thing
they expected to set on the table lands
on the floor instead. They are
astounded to find themselves stumbling
and floundering into room when
they thought they were entering prop
erly. This state Of things brings on
a nervous confusion that aggravates
the condition, and things go from bad
to worse unless some understanding
person takes charge and helps.
Such children should first be told
that the stage of growth Is natural,
necessary and indeed to be greatly
desired. That its confusions, now Sc
troublesome, will soon pass if they
help themselves little by going to
bed early enough, sleeping long
enough, and guarding their health in
all possible ways. Health is the first
consideration at this time and no
child whose voice is changing, whose
legs and arms are stretching beyond
their reach, whose tears come easily
and whose laughter is close to tears
most OF the time, whose temper is
brittle and whose will is akin to
whinsy, can afford to lose any sleep
neglect any rest period, disregard any
health rule, be indiscreet as to diet.
These children are under severe
strain. They do not understand their
own state and think they ought to keep
going night and day, do everything
that tempts them to performance and
generally exhaust themselves. This
restlessness is one of the symptoms
Of an edgy condition. The children
who indicate it must be watchfully
protected or they will come to harm.
One does not want to talk about
nervous breakdoWns, tuberculosis
hysteria and the like, but grown people
know the dangers that beset adolescent
children who live beyond their physical
means, and it is their duty to safe
guard them. Be gentle with them
Smooth their way. But hold them to
their health routine at all costs. The
leggy stage calls for unusual pro-
lection and high understanding.
Mr.. Patri will give personal atten-
ton to inquiries from parents and
school teachers on the care and de-
velopment of children. Write him in
care of this paper, inclosing = three
cent stamped, self addressed envelope
for reply.
(Copyright, 1879