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Children with fear and anxiety problems have been given the
opportunity to express and to gain insight into their fantasies to
give them creative form. Where the anxiety has shown itself in
over-aggressiveness or in otherwise difficult behaviour, children
have been allowed to release their turbulent emotions in play with
primitive material such as sand and water, before being encouraged
to direct their energies into creative handling of paint and modelling
materials.
It has been found necessary for older children to bring more
conscious understanding of their problems into the situation and so
to obtain their active co-operation in dealing with their anxieties
and difficulties.
In most cases the parents of children attending for play sessions
have been seen by the Psychiatric Social Worker, and it has been
interesting to note that where parents have been persuaded to
modify their attitude a positive reflection has shown itself in the
behaviour of the children in their play.
No. of cases treated during 1948 35
„ „ closed „ „ 17
Reason for closure:—
Adjusted 5
Improved 5
Interrupted due to non-co-operation 4
Placed away from home 1
No change 2
(vii) Speech Therapy.—Treatment centres are provided at
the Old Education Offices, High Street, and at the Open Air School.
Miss C. M. Gregory reports as follows:—
"During the past year 186 children have been treated for
various defects. Approximately 110 children are treated weekly—
of these there were about 80 stammerers of all ages, and 105 speech
defects comprising stigmatism and dyslalics. These children were
treated in classes varying in number from four to eight at a time.
"Attendance was extremely good as the younger children,
approximately eighty per cent. of the clinic, are transported by bus
to and from the clinic.
"There has been no appreciable change in the number or ages
of the various speech defects as compared with the previous year.
"Heads of schools have been most helpful with their interest
and co-operation when school visits have been made—on the average
once or twice per term.