The Pre-School Age 75 



physicians who exercise some oversight over 

 child development, but the little run-about is 

 too often left to his own devices. 



This is a most unfortunate state of affairs, 

 because we are here dealing with a most impor- 

 tant age. During infancy growth is steady and 

 rapid, but in childhood it is relatively slower 

 and takes place more in cycles. It depends very 

 largely upon good heredity and a healthy, well 

 nourished state during the first years of life. 

 Biological researches show that favorable em- 

 bryonic conditions and good nutrition during the 

 earliest years have the greatest influence in de- 

 termining the full height and development of 

 the individual. If a child is fortunate in its 

 birth and is well nourished up to the fifth 

 or sixth years, there will probably be a healthy 

 growth thereafter, as, even if there are poor 

 conditions later on, nature will probably be 

 able to compensate and make up for them. 

 Each person has a certain normal size to attain, 

 which will usually be reached if the first years 

 have been favorable. Nothing will completely 

 make up, however, for early unfavorable con- 

 ditions. 



