Evening star., 1941-11-05
Child Must
Avoid All
MAY Become a Real
Menace to Health
If Not Corrected
By Leffice Lee Street,

BY Leffice Lee Street,
Dear Mrs. STREET.: Ny 8-year-
old daughter complains OF being
tired most of the time. She looks
we'll and has good appetite. She
is a high-strung child and very
bright in school. She is tired every
day when she comes home: do you
school? Thank you for reply
Mrs. P. H. G.
This letter has been printed only
in part. but I am sure it is of in
terest to many of you mothers who
realize that it is harmful for child
to become overtired. and who wish
to prevent fatigue in their own
youngsters.
From the very clear description of
this little girl, would say that she
is a tense. nervous child. extremely
susceptible to suggestion, very sensi-
tive and with but slight emotional
control. 1t also appears that for
some reason she feels driven" to get
good marks at school.
Try to find the root of this feeling
so that you may help her TO over
come it by discussing it frankly with
her. Occurrences in school and else
where that would not ruffle more
placid youngster seem to upset her
markedly.
Something must be troubling her
as she is continually in a mental
and emotional turmoil. The cause
must be sought, found and removed
before she can overcome her un-
happiness.
Why don't you have talk with
her teacher? An instructor is In
a choice position to observe such a
child and therefore to offer con-
structive suggestions. The two OF
you may be able to work together
in trying to show the child that
it is not important for her to do
better work than any one else in
the class, but that the thing that
counts is to accomplish her work
steadily and quietly to the best OF
her ability, and to do this because
she is interested, not because she
wants to beat the other children.
Nervously unstable children are
much benefited by a rest period
after lunch. If it is possible to ar
range for the child to lie down each
day for q half an hour at least,
after her midday meal, I think that
you will find that this practice will
help to quiet her. Be sure that
she is in bed every night and lights
out by 8 o'clock
If this extreme fatigue has been
evident over any length Of time
I think you should take her to g.
doctor.
WEAKNESS in children may result
from any one of q number OF causes,
and among them are: Excessive
mental exertion, irregular routine,
overexercise, such as long periods
of violent play, bad posture, mall
nutrition, anemia, intestinal para
sites, emotional upset due to un-
happy home or school conditions,
constipation and numerous diseases
Children show that they are tired
in various ways such as listlessness.
irritability, lack of emotional control
so that they laugh and cry too
readily. loss of appetite, suffering
and nervous habits. inability to go
to sleep or a troubled sleep accom-
panied with night terrorS.
If a mother observes any OF these
symptoms over prolonged time
she really should take her child to
good pediatrician or a children's
clinic for examination, and also
make every effort to see to it that
her youngster leads a wholesome,
regular life, free from excitement
and overexertion.
Fatigue is an enemy of good
health; it not only menaces the
physical fitness of a child but pro-
vides a fertile field upon which the
seeds Of neurosis may find it easy
to flourish. There is much truth
in the saying: 1T is fatigue that
makes us despair, a refreshing
nights sleep will bring new hope"