Professor Dawson, in his book “The Child and His Religion,” says:
I once saw a little girl of three years who was unable to walk,
or even stand alone. She would make no attempt to do either,
and seemed to have absolutely no interest in getting up on
her feet or walking. The child seemed perfectly well, and her
parents had become very anxious about her. Inquiry revealed the
fact that when she was nine months old the little girl had been
injured by a fall, and had been kept very closely confined for
six months; at first in her crib, and later in a high chair,
never being allowed to stand on her feet. When she was at last
put upon the floor, she began her creeping just as she had been
in the habit of doing six months before. Nor did she show any
disposition to do otherwise than creep, even after her strength
had been fully recovered. It required several months of careful
attention on the part of the parents, in exercising her in
standing and walking, to awaken any interest whatsoever in these
activities. This law of atrophy through disuse undoubtedly
operates throughout the entire range of human interests, not
only in those interests more closely related to organic life,
but also in the intellectual, moral, and religious interests. It
is manifestly of great concern to parents and others who have
the care of children that all normal interests be given a chance
to function at the right time and in the right way. (Text.)
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