Jasper County Democrat, Volume 14, Number 81, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 January 1912 — Regular Hours for Child’s Study and Meals [ARTICLE]

Regular Hours for Child’s Study and Meals

By WELLS ANDREWS, M. D.

Hours for children’s study and for meals should be regulated. Sufficient time should be allowed before each meal to permit children to wash and prepare themselves comfortably, without going to the table excited by hurry. And they should I be required to remain at the table through- ' out a fixed time, never being. allowed to swallow their food hastily in order to com- • plete an unfinished task or game. An in- j terval of half an hour or more should intervene after meals for recreation, in order that digestion may be well under way be- |

fore any mental exertion is required. ! Constant food between meals should be forbidden. It j destroys the appetite, increases the saliva apd interferes with stomach digestion. < ; ' Children should never be hurried off to school in the moraine with an insufficient and rapidly eaten breakfast: Their appetites are often poor at this hour from the effects of an ill-ventilated sleeping apartment, and if they are kept at school for several hours without luncheon they are very ill prepared for mental work. The greater number of children have a natural craving for sweets. The important role of sugars in furnishing energy in active childhood necessitates the consumption of a larger proportion of sugar titan is required by adults. The craving of children for confections, candy and the like furnishes a true indication of the actual requirements of nature, and it must be admitted that a certain amount of wholesome candy, liks plain molasses candy, not only does most chil’nvu no harm may serve them as an excellent food. Simple forms of well-cooked bread and custard puddings should be furnished as dessert occasionally, ! Tea and coffee should be withheld. They interfere with digestion and make the child nervous. Too 1 much water should nob be allowed with meals, and what is given should not be iced. * ' ’