Smyrna times., 1943-08-12
PRE- SCHOOL
TESTS MADE
Have Children Physically Fit
For School, State Health
Board Advises
FIRST GRADE DEFECTS

With school days only about a
month away, parents are consider
ing the health of the children in
preparation for busy winter of
school routine. Well children learn
faster than sickly ones and they
are less apt to be seriously affected
by the contagious diseases of child
hood = from colds to whooping
cough-some of which occur in
every school each year, according
to the State Board of Health.
Test Before School
While the Board is concerned
with the health of all school chill
dren, it is especially interested that
children entering first grade this
year have both physical and dental
examinations and corrections made
of any defects found, before they
begin school, In this way they will
be able to start their school careers
with as few handicaps as possible.
Last year Kent County had sos
children in first grade and this year
it is expected that the number of
those entering may be approx
imately the same. Many, no doubt,
have had physical check-ups by
their family physicians but for
those who have not the State
Board of Health suggests that the
prospective first-graders be exam
ined this month and corrections
made.
Need Better Nutrition
DIR. Marion Hotopp, acting direc-
tor of the Division of Maternal and
Child Health for the Board, states
that many of the defects found in
the five and six-year-olds examined
so far are nutritional ones. When
the protective foods = milk, eggs,
leafy green vegetables, Vitamin G
rich foods (as tomatoes, citrus
fruits, cantaloupe, or raw cabbagel f,
and whole grains, are included in
sufficient amount they supply 50
per cent of the child's energy
needs. This leaves very little room
for cookies, cake, soft drinks as
well as sweet desserts which many
parents feel is essential because
they contain some milk. 1t is pre-
ferable, says Miss Eleanor Wilkin-
son, the Boards nutritionist, to
give milk in beverages, soups, or
other made dishes where more milk
is used. Parents need to give
children plenty of whole grain
breads and cereals, which are vital
to health at any age, but are par
ticularly important in developing
firm muscles and warding off ia
tigue in active children.
Dental Defects Rank Second
Dental cavities are the second
highest in the list of defects to be
found among the children of this
age group. 1t is important that
these cavities be filled in order that
the child may be able to keep his
teeth until the second ones are
ready to come through. Baby teeth
lost early because of cavities, may
mean shat the jaws will change in
shape so that the permanent teeth
do not come in as evenly as they
should. 1t is a matter both of bet
ter personal appearance for the
child and of better chewing surfac-
es if the teeth are regularly spaced.
The baby teeth hold the spaces
open for the second teeth.
Other Defects
Other defects which are found
among the prospective first-graders
include poor eyesight, faulty pos
ture (often due to poor nutrition)
poor hearing, skin diseases and
heart conditions. Assistance for
the child now, before September,
may mean a much healthier and
more successful school year for the
youngsters, emphasizes DR.. Hotopp.