European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - February 7, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Support for by Ken franckling United press International Oday s baby Boom generation of parents Are  child care More seriously to the Pool that Many couples Are starving for advice and encouragement in raising their infants experts say. There Aren t enough supports out there parents seem to be starving or information to be told that what they Are doing is All right says Meredith Censullo assistant professor of developmental psychology at Massachusetts general Hospital s Institute of health professions. There is now a trend to help parents feel belter about what they Are doing. Parents Ere hungry for input Tell me what to do and that i m doing it right " Censullo said a we can nurture the parents they will nurture the  the movement stemming in part irom the parenting philosophy of Harvard affiliated paediatrician t Berry Brazelton has brought child development studies to the Public through books and a Cable to series. Even toy companies Aie gelling involved. Baby Boom Arents two years ago. The plays Kool division at Hasbro Bradley inc. Asked the Brown University child study Cemorin Providence i. For help in developing toys that would Siren Glen a child s Basic skills and at the same time teach parents How to play with heir child. The result after 18 months research is a $70 Complete play system playtime with  ii includes More than 100 different activities designed to develop 1he child s motor skills from infancy through age 24 months and give parents a stronger sense of their child s development. Toy companies often gear themselves toward things that Are Glitzner to look at quicker to b  said Lyn Lagasse. A Brown researcher who helped develop the system. Plays Kool wanted it to be something special to be meaningful. Someone did their Homework and realized we can be More interactive with their children so they came in and said to can sell anything but what s Good for them they especially wanted to develop positive interaction. It s not bad to have parents in tune with a sense of what they be got there and a respect Lor their Hild s capabilities Lagasse said. The tact that there is a demand for such products should come As no Surprise at a time when both spouses work in Many Young households. Parents Are working More so they Are concerned about Quality time Quality interaction with their child Lagasse said. How Are they supposed to know about children How Many of us come from families of eight where you helped raise other children we re not raised in a Herd anymore now Many women know nothing about really dealing with a child unit they have  the prime Benefit of closer Parent infant interaction Lagasse said is the learning that occurs on both sides. This kind of play can help build a positive relationship Strong communication pattern Between Parent and child it comes Down to developing Mutual respect and consideration for what your child is instead of what you think he should be. Parents spend a lot of time trying to Mold their child s behaviour we want them to know How that child thinks what intrigues them Lagasse said we Hope the children Are going to Leach the parents about who they Are and what they like Censullo said the concept of a hands on leaching tool Tor parents is Good but she is concerned by the subliminal Impact that toy Industry advertising can have in child development products in general. You Don t need a $70 activity Center to be a Good Parent. The research has shown it is the Parent s ability to read the infant s cues and adjust the care to the child s capabilities that is most important Stie said. A number of companies have produced development toys arid have used development experts. They Are concerned with what s appropriate. Then thay make the Public feel guilty that if this is so appropriate Why does t their child have one i know that the whole focus of the individuality of the infant makes a better relationship. Ii the adult lakes the time to get to know the strengths and weaknesses they can tailor their Lime. It s a matter of helping the Parent to gel to know their child better. Nothing takes the place of the Parent or the place of the hug it is the timing and the pauses that Are As important As the doing Censullo said. Erma Bombeck in a world Hal is draught with frustration Over things that Are bad Tor you it s time we looked Al the few things led that Are still Good Lor you granted there Aren t a lot of things around that have survived medical probing psychiatry and the surgeon general s office bul there Are a Lew. These things have defied All reason but they have been around so Long no one dares question them anymore anything your Mother Teffs you to eat is still Good Lor you no matter anal anyone says Trust her. There in l a child in the world fio has Evor won a Case against a Mother on if is do you want to Tell your Mother that All thai Cream and Bulter in her cakes Are clogging your arteries Don i even think i Chicken soup is shall a cure All Tor no reason whatsoever. In fact a major Hospital recognising the soup s Healing Powers has actually Pul its Brand into a can and Sells it to those seeking an instant cure Over the counter confession is still Good for the soul. Although a lol of people serving time would disagree Wilh that it s still in the conscience cure All top ten. Mommy s Moses Hal heal Aie still Sale Tram in pics you d have nought by this time they d have discovered kissing bloody scratches and bruised fingers would spread gems or transmit a disease no one could pronounce bul oddly enough it still works Tor crying children you have logo la Cugh a lot of foods to find one thai no one has found something harmful in the Only one that has not found its Way into a medical report is rhubarb. Even when dogs relieve themselves on it in the Garden no one thinks it s bad for you a Little Tresh air is  Good for you notice the imitation there despite the tact that air has been polluted for some time now children Are still encouraged to go outside and play even if the chill Factor is seven above Zero some mothers. Afraid their children will not got enough goodness even lock the door behind them. On the other hand i saw a Story the other Day of a Man who was celebrating his 100th birthday. He confessed he stayed up Taie to watch to ate everything he could get his hands on and drank scotch i Don l know what that confession did for his soul but it did a lot for mine. Hilo Page 16 the stars and stripes saturday february 7,1987