Figure 1.--.

It was the Victorians in the 19th century that created the increasingly sentimental view of childhood now widely accepted. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert set an example for a prim and proper family where the children are tenderly cared for within a loving family. An ever invreasing number of publications spewed our a torrent of advise to parents. The Victorian parents were advisded to deal with their children firmly, but more tenderly than in the past. Increasingly the mother was seen as the best equipped parent to deal with the children. This was in part because it was the other who was judged more capable through tenderness of reacing the child's heart and this set values and affect behavior. Often mothers cared for the children until they reached a ceratin age. (This was not the case in the English royal family where Albert played an important role, even with the younger children.) By the late 19th century, a very sentimental view of childhood had emerged, one of a golden period. The angelic Little Lord Fauntleroy outfits of the 1880s and 90s symbolized the new way in which children were viewed. Increasingly adults saw childhood as a time in which children needed to be protected from a host of complicated adult concerns. These were, however, middle class concerns. All to many children receiving little schooling, and having to enter the adult work force even before reaching their teen years.

The Victorians

It was the Victorians in the 19th century that created the increasingly sentimental view of childhood now widely accepted. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert set an example for a prim and proper family where the children are tenderly cared for within a loving family.

Publications

An ever invceasing number of publications spewed our a torrent of advise to parents. The Victorian parents were advisded to deal with their children firmly, but more tenderly than in the past. Some of the advise was surprising modern. Some was rather cruel or evem indless. Some was rather amusing. The sheer volume was overwealming. There were both books and articles in a variety of magazines and other publicatiions. Women's magazines mixing fashion, cooking, childcarem, and other topics were very popular.

Dr. William Dewees

Dr. William Dewees in 1825 offered suprisingly modern advise about cleanliness. He sressed keeping nirsing bottles claen and babies in dry diapers. Many at the time had thought that wet diappers helped to toughen a baby.

The Beecher sisters

Cathertine Beecher anf her better known sister Harier Beecher Stowe published a book, The American Woman's Home full of uplifting maxims for the young mother.

Bazaar

This fashionable book offered advise on a wide range of topics. One difficult issue for adoring mothers was the appropriate age to breech her son. "Her disposition, with her natural feminine tastes and tenderness, is always inclining her to deck her child with the gewgaws of finery and coddle him with the delicate appliances of luxury," Baazat advised mothers. The expert continued, "The timely check from the manly boy may therefore prevent her from persisting in an effeminating process which would be sure, if continued, to deprive him of his best characteristics." [Bazaar Book of the Household, p. 214]

Parental Roles

Increasingly the mother was seen as the best equipped parent to deal with the children. This was in part because it was the other who was judged more capable through tenderness of reacing the child's heart and this set values and affect behavior. Often mothers cared for the children until they reached a ceratin age. (This was not the case in the English royal family where Albert played an important role, even with the younger children.)

Sentimental View

By the late 19th century, a very sentimental view of childhood had emerged, one of a golden period. The angelic Little Lord Fauntleroy outfits of the 1880s and 90s symbolized the new way in which children were viewed. Increasingly adults saw childhood as a time in which children needed to be protected from a host of complicated adult concerns.

Child Labor

A golden care-free childhood was unfortunaely a middle class experience. All to many children receiving little schooling. Many countries including England were very late in creating free public education systems. Many children had to enter the adult work force even before reaching their teen years. Through the 19th century there were no child labor laws. Work houses for the poor were brutal and degrading. Orphanages were established during the later half of the 19th century, but were often inadequate.