The Ypsilanti daily press., 1946-04-06
Your Health
Happiness Needed
as Much as Sun by
Growing Child

NtOhlnB SullN
By HERMAN BuNDEsEN. M. Z
FEW parents realize how all
important happiness Is for the
little child. Just as his growing
body needs sunlight and fresh air,
so his developing personality TO
quires the atmosphere Of love.
But love means different things
TO people, and parents generally
seem to have q tendency TO confuse
Il with pride. This Is . mistake
which Is completely disruptivs Of
child-happiness because II spur
parents to demand more from the
child than he can give.
Forced Growth
A child cannot be forced into
his various stages Of growth. His
nature must develop slowly from
within and unfold gently like the
unfolding leaf.
The child Who lacks or who is
pushed beyond his native eApaei-
ties is likely TO develop emotional
conflicts. And emotional disturb
aness are reflected not only in
desp-rooted personality defects,
but In actual physical symptoms
similar to those Of disease.
Sometimes, there are grave be-
hAvior problems as well -. bed
wetting, dirt eating, tics (repeat-
ed twitching Of certain museles),
and 4 great deal Of crying at
night.
Repeated Headache
According TO DIR. Herbert c.
Miller, of Yale University School
Of Medicine, repeated attacks Of
headache in the absence Of eye
strain, sinus infection, migrains
and certain other disorders, are
usually produced by conflict Of the
emotions or disturbing situations
To- which the child cannot find .
ready solution.
He says, also, that attacks OF
pain over the heart lasting for q
short time and accompanied By
breathlessness may occur in chill
dren who have been pushed be-
yond their abilities ~ their par
ents. Sometimes, they may de-
velop because q child has been
forced TO assume responsibilities
too great for one Of his years. An
other cause is q feeling Of insecur-
ity because Of disturbed home con-
ditions or q feeling Of not being
loved.
Abdominal Pain
Perhaps the most common symp-
tom due to emotional conflicts 10
pain in the abdomen. Such attacks
Of pain, even when accompanied
by vomiting and constipation, may
merely be an attempt on the part
Of the child to draw attention 70
himself.
In trying to determine just what
10 producing the emotional conflict
responsible for the many symp-
toms, it In necessary not only 10
study the child's mental condition
but also emotions Of the parents.
Parents 90 often make the mis-
take Of not trying TO find out Just
what tho ehild's capabilities are,
but instead, try TO mold the boy or
girl according TO some pattern
which they select and, usually,
there Ii no stimulation given TO
the child 70 live mp TO these ideals
Of the parents. Such an attitude
win bring on an emotional conflict
which affects both child and par.
ents.
Behavior Problems
In treating these behavior PROB
lens, Il is important first Of all,
to make sure there Is no organic
basis for the attacks as deter.
mined BY . complete physical az
animation. Then, the parents must
be made to realize that the child's
symptoms are not due to q dis
ease but, rather, TO emotional dis.
turbances. Thus, by the proper
change in attitude % the part Of
the parents, a great deal can often
be done to relieve the trouble.
Much can be done, also, to pre-
vent these symptoms. The expee-
tant mother should rid herself of
superstitions and false notions
concerning the raising Of the
child. She must not be afraid to
handle the baby after it is born
and she must not lose confidence
in her ability to nurse him and
care for him properly. A lack Of
confidence in the mother may easi-
ly be transferred to the baby.
II every parent would take stock
Of these things and realize that he
must rid himself Of his own emo
tional conflicts, fears and uncer-
tainties lest they weigh on his
child with crushing force, we