Dear Reader

Fifties Flashback Forward: The Art of ‘Childcraft’

My husband Matt comes from a large bookish family, and after his dear mother passed away, he brought home a collection of books dating from his childhood. Among this tome treasury is a complete 15volume set of the 1954 edition of the “Childcraft” series. Now, for those of you who haven’t heard of “Childcraft,” it is essentially a “how and why” encyclopedia set for families that has been reinvented and reissued by World Book multiple times since its first publication in the 1930s to reflect our ever-changing world — and the faceted experience of parenting.

Presented in thematic, fastidiously indexed volumes, “Childcraft” was created to both engage children in fun learning (the child-directed content is beautifully illustrated and storybook-like), and to inspire parents to be “your child’s first and most influential teacher … understanding, resourceful and stimulating.”

I find this series astonishing for many reasons, not the least of which is the realization that the experience of rearing young children, then and now, is not as different as we might imagine. In wise, reassuring and practical essays on every child development topic under the sun, the expert contributors of “Childcraft” presumed and addressed a readership of moms and dads who embraced parenting as a high calling.

Post-WWII American families at that time were obviously not strangers to the type of anxiety-inducing existential pangs that today’s families grapple with; and interestingly, it was also an era when the groundswell of study into child life and development first surged. Correspondingly, deep humanity and keen insight permeate “Childcraft.”

So, whatever notions I held about 1950s parenting mores — chiefly that children must be “seen not heard” — were refuted the moment I cracked the cover of volume 15, which outlines in one section a “Pledge to Children,” which vows, in part:

• From your earliest infancy we give you our love, so that you may grow with trust in yourself and others.

• We will recognize your worth as a person and we will help you to strengthen your sense of belonging.

• We will respect your right to be yourself and at the same time help you to understand the rights of others. …

• We will illustrate by precept and example the value of integrity and the importance of moral courage. …

• We will work to rid ourselves of prejudice and discrimination, so that together we may achieve a truly democratic society. …

• We will provide you with rewarding educational opportunities, so that you may develop your talents and contribute to a better world. …

I am heartened by the timeless and universal significance of this pledge, which reads to me like a pretty inspiring and commonsense job description.

On that note, happy Mother’s Day to all you mamas!

MAY 2022, VOL. 19, NO. 5 PUBLISHER Alayne Sulkin

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What is your favorite Mother’s Day tradition?

Share a drink with neighborhood mom friends

Fancy brunch with a girlfriend

Brunch and shopping with my sister

Sleeping in + breakfast in bed

Visiting the Japanese Garden at the Arboretum

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