Teaching Moments: Children's Literature and Child-Rearing


Home	Teaching Moments: Children's Literature and Child-Rearing Start by browsing some of the items in our Children's Literature and Child-Rearing subject list. Discussion Questions: How are specific characteristics and personality traits instilled in children through specific books, according to "Children's Books: Their Selection and Influence"? To what extent is this opinion about the influence of books on children still held today? How is this argument similar or different to more recent critiques of comic books, video games, and television for their effects on children? "The Children's Code of Morals" was published in 1917, near the end of World War I. What various "laws" are children asked to follow? How do patriotism, specific definitions of "citizenship," and the characteristics of a "good American" function in this text? Read "Habit Training for Children," (1924). How is parenthood discussed in this text? What reasons are cited for specific behavior problems? Do you agree with the reasons cited? Why or why not? Are children's behavior problems attributed to the same causes today? What is different and what is the same? What do you think has caused any changes in the way in which we view child behavior? Read through the three letters from the Treasury Department, United States Health Service, to Mrs. Simon, dated December 31, 1931, January 1, 1932, and February 1, 1932. What advice given to pregnant women strikes you as odd, outdated, or funny? What advice makes sense to you? Why do you think the government sent these letters? What assumptions are made about women's attitudes towards pregnancy, motherhood, and family? How do the letters discuss the pregnant body? Do you think these letters were helpful to women? Why or why not?
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Teaching Moments:
Children's Literature and Child-Rearing

Start by browsing some of the items in our Children's Literature and Child-Rearing subject list.

Discussion Questions:

How are specific characteristics and personality traits instilled in children through specific books, according to "Children's Books: Their Selection and Influence"? To what extent is this opinion about the influence of books on children still held today? How is this argument similar or different to more recent critiques of comic books, video games, and television for their effects on children?

"The Children's Code of Morals" was published in 1917, near the end of World War I. What various "laws" are children asked to follow? How do patriotism, specific definitions of "citizenship," and the characteristics of a "good American" function in this text?

Read "Habit Training for Children," (1924). How is parenthood discussed in this text? What reasons are cited for specific behavior problems? Do you agree with the reasons cited? Why or why not? Are children's behavior problems attributed to the same causes today? What is different and what is the same? What do you think has caused any changes in the way in which we view child behavior?

Read through the three letters from the Treasury Department, United States Health Service, to Mrs. Simon, dated December 31, 1931, January 1, 1932, and February 1, 1932. What advice given to pregnant women strikes you as odd, outdated, or funny? What advice makes sense to you? Why do you think the government sent these letters? What assumptions are made about women's attitudes towards pregnancy, motherhood, and family? How do the letters discuss the pregnant body? Do you think these letters were helpful to women? Why or why not?