An essay on the government of children, under three general heads, viz. health, manners, and educationNelson, James
History
An essay on the government of children, under three general heads, viz. health, manners, and education
Nelson, James
Child rearing -- England -- History -- 18th century
I cannot but be of Opinion, that every Method in the Management of sick
Children contrary to this is erroneous; I think I have seen all tried
that is in the Power of human Invention; and many who read this cannot
but be convinced that their own Endeavours have often been fruitless.
The first Rule Parents are to lay down to themselves is, never to
deceive their Children; for surely those who are to teach them never
to be deceitful, cannot but be very unfit Persons to deceive them
themselves: nor does this square with the Practice of quibbling down a
Dose of Physic, under a thousand Shifts and Turns, and even manifest
Falshoods. The next Rule is, to avoid the Practice of Bribes. Children
should be taught to know, that their greatest Happiness is their Parents
Love; therefore the Custom of giving them Sugar-Plumbs, Cakes, Toys, or
Money for every thing they take, is grievously wrong: it gives them a
Fondness for improper things; it gives them a restless Desire for every
new Bauble; and above all, it gives them an early Mean-spiritedness; an
odious Selfishness; a Desire of being paid for every thing they do.
At the same time that I recommend to Parents never to call things
by wrong Names, never to attempt imposing on a Child’s Senses or
Understanding, or to force down Medicines with Bribes; so I also
recommend, that they avoid Harshness and Violence, unless pressed to
it by great Necessity; but this Caution is almost needless after what
has been said: for with the Method proposed, it requires no more than
to approach the sick Bed with, Come, my Dear, take your Dose; if the
Child says, it is nauseous, grant it: but at the same time say, We do
not take Medicines for Pleasure, but to make us well: if it declines
it, urge how wrong it is to dwell on what would be gone in a Minute;
and if any Difficulty still remains, inform it, that it is not for your
Sake you urge it, but it’s own; and that while you are doing all you can
to restore it to Health, you must, and will be obeyed. At intermediate
times, let Parents, by a fond, engaging Behaviour, convince their
Children how tenderly they love them; let them frequently mingle with
them in their little Plays and Sports; and let them sometimes overlook
Trifles, that they may have more Influence in Matters of Moment.
Lord _Hallifax_ observes, that the first Impressions Children receive
are in the Nursery; whence he infers, that Mothers have not only the
earliest, but the most lasting Influence over them.
That the first Care of Children, and many of the most tender Offices
they require, are the Mother’s Province, is an undoubted Truth; but when
the forming their Manners is under Consideration, the Influence of both
Father and Mother should, if possible, be equal; at least it is necessary
that Parents go hand in hand, and not counteract one another in the
Government of them.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account