b. Taking long, slow, deep breaths
c. Sitting quietly for a few minutes to think,—with eyes shut, if thinking is thereby easier
d. Thinking of something funny
e. Getting away by himself, in a room, or out with nature
Posture. Find out what is good posture in sitting, standing, and walking, and see that the child maintains these. During childhood and youth the bones are still soft and yielding, readily altered in shape.
Stretching, throwing, swinging from rings or horizontal bars, climbing, rowing, swimming, are excellent preventive exercises, and useful for correction of curvatures or round shoulders. For the child’s use select chairs that are properly constructed (as most chairs are not) and a table at which he can work without stooping, changing such furniture to meet his needs as he grows.
Spinal curvature and round shoulders may be caused by rickets, eyestrain, partial deafness, improperly constructed chairs and tables, long sitting, insufficient outdoor life and physical activity, unequal strength of complementary muscles of back and chest, or of right and left sides, and by carrying always on one side.
Spinal curvature crowds the internal organs, interfering with the normal functioning of lungs, heart, blood supply, stomach, and intestines; it causes pressure upon the spinal nerves, and consequent disorders in remote parts of the body controlled by the affected nerves.
If curvature has developed, special gymnastics and training should be faithfully practiced in addition to removing the cause. Braces are inadvisable, preventing needed exercise. The correction of even the slightest curvature is important while the bones are still plastic. The special exercises should be prescribed by a physical director or physician.
Physical Exercises. A child who has ample outdoor play space, and clothes adapted to outdoor play is not likely to need any special exercises. For correcting abnormal or weak conditions, the following are effective: