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Why Won't Tommy Eat?

Accession number: 
1948.0014
Production Years: 
1948

Languages:

Film Properties: 
Length (feet): 
577 (16mm)
Length (minutes): 
17
Holding Institutions: 

Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, British Columbia: VHS.
"Through the story of 5-year-old Tommy, discusses the problems of children who won't eat, and what can be done about it. Shows Tommy, who should be hungry, just picking at his food. Going back to early babyhood, traces in detail how eating habits are formed, explaining that individual likes and dislikes must be taken into consideration, and that the worst habit of all is the permanent battle over food. In despair Tommy's mother takes him to the doctor, who explains that she is really the cause of the problem because she has been tense and impatient with Tommy from the start. Points out the need for building a new atmosphere of cooperation, friendliness, and understanding of Tommy's personal requirements at mealtimes."

University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario: 16mm.

Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario: 16mm.

Library and Archives Canada: 16mm, VHS, digibeta.
"The problem of children who won't eat - and what can be done about it. Tommy should be hungry, but we see him just picking at his food. Going back to early babyhood, the film traces in detail how eating habits are formed. We see how individual likes and dislikes must be taken into consideration, and that the worst habit of all is the permanent battle over food. After this analysis we find Tommy still sitting by his well-filled plate. In despair his mother takes him to the doctor who explains that she is really the problem. She realizes that she has been tense and impatient with Tommy from the start. Now it will take painstaking care to build a new atmosphere of cooperation and friendliness to learn understanding of Tommy's personal requirements at mealtimes and all the time. Animated sequences include a doctor and scientist agreeing on what makes an animated Tommy grow and various sources of nutrition including foods, vitamins, calories, proteins, and carbohydrates. "

Bibliography: 

National Film Board of Canada (online database).
"This film examines the problem of children who won't eat, and what can be done about it. Tommy should be hungry, but he just picks at his food. Going back to early babyhood, the film traces in detail, how eating habits are formed, how individual likes and dislikes must be taken into consideration, and that the worst habit of all is the permanent battle over food. After this analysis, Tommy still sits by his well-filled plate. In despair his mother takes him to the doctor, who explains that she is really the problem. She realizes that she has been tense, impatient with Tommy from the start. Now it will take painstaking care to build a new atmosphere of cooperation and friendliness, to learn understanding of Tommy's personal requirements at mealtimes, and all the time."

"Une maman apprend, après une consultation médicale, la patience et la fermeté avec son jeune bébé qui refuse de manger. En tenant compte de ses goûts et ses aversions, elle s'habituera peu à peu à manger des aliments sains. La maman de Jean veillera dorénavant à redonner aux repas une ambiance détendue."

University of Waterloo Audiovisual Services Catalog.
"The problem of children who won't eat and what can be done is discussed in this film. The film traces, in detail, how eating habits are formed and what kinds of things must be taken into consideration to help children develop good eating habits."

Service de ciné-photographie de la province de Québec, Films 16mm: édition 1956-57 (Quebec City: Service de ciné-photographie, 1956), 368-69.
"Ce film traite de l'alimentation des enfants, à partir des tout petits jusqu'à la période critique de l'adolescence. Son but est d'expliquer aux parents quelles sont les causes qui influent sur l'appétit des jeunes et conséquemment sur leur état de santé général."