Milford chronicle., 1941-08-29

height.
Mental Health
Be glad if your child is happy
away from home, for this means
that he is a well-adjusted child,
says Doctor Marion Hotopp, acting
director of Maternal and Child
Health for the State Board of
Health. The parents attitude will
do much to help the child have a
happy school experience. Show an
interest in the things the child
brings home from school or tells
you about it. Each one is impor-
tant to him and should have your
respect Your child's attitude to-
ward the school reflects the atti-
tude of the home and he looks for
the things in school that the par
ents lead him to expect to find
there. Help him to solve his own
problems and encourage associa-
tion with other children.
If your youpgster is entering
school for the first time do not
linger with many fond "farewells"
on the morning that school opens.
Treat school as just another part
of his life in taken-for-granted at
titude. Prepare the way by sug-
gesting some of the fun and new ex-
periences he will have there. Right
mental health is as important as
right physical health in a child's
ability to progress in the school
world.
Clothing
Clothe your child simply, ad-
vises DIR. Hotopp, in garments that
may be easily laundered. Be sure
that they are large enough for
freedom of bodily movements, al
lowing jumping, running, climbing
and stretching. They should be
comfortable and long enough in the
crotch, with no binding portions
about waists, arms, or legs. In
preparing small children's cloth
ing, remember to allow for inde-
pendence in toilet and dressing
habits, with buttons and button
holes large enough to be easily
unfastened.
Purchase or make the child's
clothing in keeping with the wea-
ther conditions: light weight for
warm days and warm outer gar
ments for cold weather. For rain
plan to have rubbers or galoshes
and a rain coat or cape and cap
or a warm coat and umbrella.
Shoes should be purchased to
fit the individual and should al
ways be large enough to permit |
free, easy foot muscle movements. |
Do not wait until shoes are worn
out, discard them as soon as you
find they are restricting the toes.
Allowing a child to wear shoes
that are too tight may seriously in
jure his feet.
The School Child's Day
Good health depends upon a
wholesome daily life. Plan your
child's day so that there will be
time for school work, adequate |
sleep, three meals, rest, and out
door play. If school children are
to get sufficient outdoor exercise |
and play, most of the time after
school should be spent out of
doors, as well as the greater part
of Saturday and Sunday. 1t is a
good idea for every child to learn
responsibility by having some
household chores, but these must
be fitted into the daily program in
such a way that they will not pre-
vent his getting enough outdoor
play and other exercise, advises
DR.. Hotopp.
Crossness, flushed cheeks, con-
stant use of a high-pitched voice
and loud laughter indicate need for
rest. A ten-minute quiet period be-
fore meals at noon and night may
help a tired child to be ready to
eat and enjoy his food.
And So To Bed
Plan the after-dinner time so
that home study, household chores
and visiting with the family do
not interfere with a regular early
bedtime in order that the youngs-
ters have a full nights sleep and
are ready to get up in the morn
ing. Parents are apt to forget,
says DR.. Hotopp, that ten age chill
dren, because of their rapid growth
at this age, may. need as much or
even more sleep than younger
school children.