Evening star., 1938-04-04
Feed Excited
Child Very
|Sparingly
Forcing Food When
Nerves Are Tense
Always Unwise.
BY ANGELO PATRI,

FATHER brought home a red and
green envelope and handed 1t with
elaborate difference to Susan, by right
OF birth the head of the host of five
that made home and family for him
and mother.
"Fa-a-a-ther! Circus ticketsl Seven!
You're coming too? Joy and gladness,
what time we will have. Isn't it Just
too splendid? All Of the Allen family
go to the circus"
| The excitement grew and grew until
next day. the great day, it reached the
sky limit. Now, now, we'll Just get
ready and sit down to our breakfast a
little early. Then We can start. Come
along. Jean You're s TODAY, and
this is your party. Here's your orange
| juice. And then your cereal"
The family ate most of their break
| fast except Jean. She barely touched
| the orange juice and tWiddled the
| spoon in the cereal.
Come along, Jean" scolded big
brother in disgust. Eat it. We are
all waiting for you. Hurry up and
| swallow it,
I can't" walled Jean.
| Mother was stern in her regard for
meal schedules. She was making an
exception this day by setting break
| fast Is minutes ahead and not insist
ing upon clean plates. Jean, eat
your cereal All of it. Eat it or be
left behind"
That was awful. The other four
gasped and each bent anxiously over
Jean to help her down the cereal.
They coaxed and encouraged her. but
poor Jean was too journey-proud to
swallow. Then you stay home" said
| mother. Here" said big brother
/ rushing to the rescue. Quick Jean.
Ill feed it to you Make believe it is
medicine and I'm the doctor. Down
with it." Mother allowed the gesture
. to stand and the party started
The farther they travelled along the
road to town the paler grew Jeans
face and soon the car had to be stop
ped Jean lost her breakfast. The
whole family was distressed and a
shadow fell over their happy day.
When a child is excited about
journey of coming happiness, he is
likely to refuse TO eat as usual. And
he is right when he does so. His
nerves are quivering, and the nerves in
his stomach are not the least of those
involved. Better let the child eat
lightly. Offer him milk or fruit tuice,
bit of toast, and if he refuses them,
let 1t go at that, Skipping a meal or
two will not hurt child, but eating
when in a nervous state is very likely
to bring on trouble
At circus party. or beach picnic.
try to have the meals light. Try to
have the children drink milk that YOU
know is safe. fruit drinks that you are
certain to be fresh and clean. Limit
the candy and the pop Let the en-
tertainment feed them instead of the
STANDS and there will be less Of the
day-after feeling.
Such happy interruptions OF the
schedule are good for children. They
refresh them and send them back to
routine and work in better spirit. I
would excuse child any day to 90 10
the circus, or to the parade. or for
trip with father. Life is school, the
very best sort.
Mr.. Patri has prepared a leafet en-
titled, Annoying Habits" in which he
tells parents how to cope with some
OF the common infantile faults. Send
for it, addressing your request to Mr..
Angelo Patri, Child Psychology De-
partment Of this paper. and inclose a
self-addressed, stamped (3-cent en-
velope.
(Copyrisht. 1881