Show ARE THEY READY FOR by hazel stevens director of autri lion service with the opening of a new school lear ear in september our thought naturally turns to the h health of the young hildren ww ario will acrin their school career the number of children entering school with physical detects defects faulty health habits arid and other causes responsible for poor classroom work should stimulate parents to see that their childrens health condition is satisfactory when they trip off to answer the first school bell the problem Is more than just the correction of abnormal conditions a few months before school begins it is the problem of health supervision from the earliest moment of life with adequate parental care and thorough medical supervision during infancy children two years of age should be free from preventable health handicap that means that they are in good nutrition are immunized against smallpox and diphtheria have bare pound teeth sleep and nap regularly eat cat plenty of the right kind of food and play happily and vigorously out of doors in the sunshine our big job during next few years Is to capitalize on this excellent start by bringing him up to school age in such condition that there is not the anxiety and need tor for hurried correction of defects the points to bear in mind during this intervening period be twenell infancy and school age are that each child has his physical examination every 6 months at least once each year or as aften as his doctor advises if he is not already immunized against diphtheria and vaccinated vaccina ted against smallpox this should be done immediately your physician may suggest vaccination tor for typhoid especially it if the water arid and milk are not known to be safe ills regular health habit regime is continued he still sleeps and naps regularly continues to enjoy his meals relishes food which Is good for him and welcomes the wholesome olne outdoor play and companionship of other children ile he lias has prompt arid and adequate medical I 1 attention during illness his environment is controlled to pre vent harmful influences from effect effecting ill his development such as faulty heating arid and ventilation of the home prevention of needless exposure to infections common colds included etc I 1 ile he visits ill his dentist regularly and has any dental work needed done donaj I 1 I 1 promptly the health examination by the family physician just before lie he enters enter should find the child free from remediable defects if however hla his parents have neglected his regular health supervision and also neglected to correct his faulty fault y health conditions examination should receive the preschool special attention investigation of the condition of the eyes and ears including vision and hearing nose and throat teeth heart lungs posture bone feet and general nutrition are a few of the more important items item to be noted the next step Is the correction immediately of all abnormalities abnormal ties dikeov ered in this preschool examination this should be done several months before the child goes to school the wise parent who has followed this protective health procedure will realize that health supervision does not end with the preschool period but continues throughout the school years the child who has the advantages of such a regime will enter manhood and womanhood better equipped d physically U t meet the problems of adult life HAVE THEW THEM READY MR FOR SCHOOL CHOOL I 1 HELEN MABRY MABEY county nurse |