Liber II, Pars II — Qualis cura gerenda sit de pueris a principio nativitatis usque ad septem annos. Cap. XV.

Liber II, Pars II — Qualis cura gerenda sit de pueris a principio nativitatis usque ad septem annos. Cap. XV.

Since particular sermons seem to be very beneficial for moral matters, we will show what kind of care should be taken regarding children as we go through different times. First, we will explain what kind of care should be given to children up to the age of seven. Second, we will discuss what care should be taken from the seventh to the fourteenth year. After that, we will address the period starting from the fourteenth year onward. The philosopher touches on this in Book 7. He discusses it in Politics. There are six points regarding the care of children that should be observed in their early years. First, because until the age of seven they should be nourished with soft foods, especially starting with milk. First, they should be kept away from wine. Second, they should be accustomed to cold. Third, they should be trained to appropriate and moderate movements, which seem beneficial at every age. Fourth, they should engage in proper games, and they should be told some stories and fables in which they can find enjoyment, especially when they begin to understand the meanings of words. Sixth, they should be kept from crying. Therefore, until the age of seven, they should be nourished with soft foods; however, they should primarily be fed with milk from the beginning. Thus, the philosopher states. Politic. It is said that the nourishment of milk seems to be particularly suited to the bodies of children. In that tender age, up until they are about seven years old, children should be nourished with soft and moist foods, because they can easily tolerate such things and they are easily converted into nourishment. However, it should be noted that when young people are nourished with milk, if they happen to drink any other milk than their mother's, a woman similar to their mother should be sought in terms of complexion, because mother's milk seems to be most suitable for her own child. Secondly, children should be prohibited from wine, especially at the time when they are drinking milk; and this is according to the Philosopher because of illnesses. For children easily become ill and are made ill-disposed in body if, at the time when they are mostly nourished by milk, they become accustomed to drinking wine. Indeed, some say that if at that time they become accustomed to wine, they are disposed to leprosy. Thirdly, children should be accustomed to cold. From which the Philosopher says in the seventh book of the Politics. It is said that it is beneficial for young children to get used to the cold. Getting children accustomed to the cold is useful for two reasons. First, it promotes health, as the same philosopher says that exercise in the cold creates a good disposition in children due to the warmth present in them. Second, exercise in the cold is useful for young children for military actions. For the cold strengthens and tightens the limbs; thus, when they reach the appropriate age, they are more suited for military endeavors if they have been somewhat trained in the cold since childhood. Hence, the same philosopher says that among certain barbarian nations, it is customary to bathe children in cold rivers. This is so that they may become stronger. However, it should be noted that when we say that young children should be accustomed to this or that, it should be understood that it is done moderately and gradually, and as the condition of the individuals requires. Fourth, children should be accustomed to suitable and moderate movements. For according to the philosopher, moderate movement in children leads to four benefits. First, because it makes the body healthier: for moderate exercise seems to promote health at any age. Second, because it makes the body more agile. If children are accustomed from the beginning to various movements, they become more agile in body and avoid inertia; for if they do not get used to various movements, they become heavy, sluggish, and inert. Third, it contributes to growth. For since growth occurs from the very food that nourishes the well-disposed body, and that is well-nourished and supported, it is beneficial for growth. For when growth happens from the very nourishment that supports a well-disposed body, and that is well-nourished and sustained, it is beneficial for growth. Fourth, moderate movement strengthens the limbs: everyone experiences that if they exercise moderately for physical tasks, their body parts become stronger and more solid. Therefore, since children have very tender bodies, they should be accustomed to some moderate and temperate movements so that their limbs can become stronger. Hence, the Philosopher states. The Philosopher. He says that it is beneficial for children to engage in any kind of movement, however small, to strengthen their limbs and to avoid becoming weak due to their tenderness: the Philosopher praises moderate movement in children so highly that he states from the very beginning of their birth that some instruments should be made for them, in which they can be turned and moved. Fifth, children should be refreshed through some games and stories. For a moderate game is suitable for children because in a moderate game there is moderate movement, and through moderate play, inertia is avoided, and their bodies become more agile. There are also some stories or histories that should be recited to children once they begin to understand the meanings of words. Some songs that are decent are also good for them to sing. For they cannot endure sadness at all; therefore, it’s good for them to get used to some moderate games and to some honest and harmless delights. At six, they should be restrained from crying. For when children are restrained from crying, it happens through that very prohibition that they retain their breath and their sighs; likewise, when they are held back from crying, they keep their breath and their sighs. However, according to the Philosopher in the seventh book of the Politics, holding back the breath and sighs contributes to the strength of the body. Therefore, in order for children to become stronger, they should be restrained from that crying.