View report page

28
birthday card to every child in the Borough on reaching its first
birthday on which the question is asked —Is the child taken to an
Infant Welfare Centre and has it been protected against diphtheria ?
Should this propaganda result in a substantial increase in the
number of toddlers' attendances at the general medical sessions
further consideration will have to be given to the question of the
establishment of “ Toddlers” clinics.
Toddlers Visitations.
The number of visits paid by the Health Visitors to toddlers
during the year was 20,539. Mothers were invited at these visits to
bring their children to the Infant Welfare Centres. These visits
also provided the opportunity to the Health Visitor of influencing
the mothers to seek appropriate treatment for any physical defects
discovered in the child.
Facilities for the supervision of toddlers are also available
at day nurseries, nursery classes and nursery schools. The authority
responsible for the establishment of day nurseries for infants under
school age is the Maternity and Child Welfare Authority, nursery
classes and nursery schools are supervised by the local Education
Authority.
Experience has shown that these institutions have frequently
to be closed owing to an outbreak of infectious disease. Nevertheless
marked improvement in health, intelligence and happiness results in
children attending day nurseries. Nursery classes established
in public elementary schools for infants from 3 to 5 years
of age also play their part, but have at the present moment
limitations which cause them to be less valuable than nursery
schools. Educational establishments for infants from 2 to 5 years
of age not only assist in the work of prevention of physical deterioration
but they also serve as training centres for the mental development
and habit formation of the child.