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Exhibit explores theories for rearing 'Perfect Child'

By PETER BOYLAN
Date: Wednesday, January 8, 2003

"Foolishness," says the Bible, "is bound up in the heart of a child, which the rod of correction must drive out."

This is the first of many musings on what it takes to rear the ideal youth that are on display at the Johnson County Museum of History as part of an exhibit called "The Perfect Child."

The exhibit offers insight into the intricacies of child rearing by detailing the practices and equipment that have been hailed by "experts" over the years as the way to raise a kid.

The exhibit is divided into seven eras, each defined by the most widely held opinions on what it takes to raise a child.

In the American Colonies, for example, many parents routinely turned to the Bible as a means for governing the upbringing of their children.

The Puritans of New England were a religiously fervent bunch who assumed that babies were born into sin and that parents must employ strict discipline to shield the child from evil.

These beliefs are chronicled at the exhibit's entrance, where a biblical proverb hangs above a display case that holds a swaddled child, against a green and gray backdrop angled to guide visitors into the room.

Puritans swaddled their children from birth until the age of 4 or 5 months. Swaddling means to gently pull the baby's legs and arms straight, then to wrap the entire body tightly in long strips of linen. They believed this kept children away from Satan while encouraging them to grow straight and tall.

Anne Marvin, curator of collections and the woman responsible for "The Perfect Child," said the exhibit appeals to a wide range of adults as well as children.

"I remember raising kids," said Marvin. "It's neat for the children to come through and see pictures of other children from different time periods."

Aside from the Puritans, the exhibit also touches on "The Natural Child: (1750-1830)," an era in which philosopher Jean-Jacques Rous-seau popularized the idea that children started out as pure creatures and if adequately protected from bad influences would evolve into good adults.

Among recommendations some parents of the era followed was a chilling routine of cold baths and a plain diet of water and simple foods coupled with constant exposure to nature as means for producing the total tyke.

Many visitors to the exhibit reminisce over the "Boomer Babies: (1945-1970)," an era marked by the publication of Dr. Benjamin Spock's "Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care" that helped guide many a parent in raising their children.

The section is replete with artifacts from the early baby boom era, such as a large wooden crib adorned with decorative elements characteristic of the time period.

The exhibit has benefited from holiday traffic at the Johnson County Museums, as many visitors came to view the electric house that is decorated for the season, and ended up running into images of their childhood.

"I just wanted to see if my wife and I raised our kids right," said Mark Boettcher, a 47 year-old real estate analyst.

Today, parents apparently over-schedule their kids.

"The Regimented Child: (1970-Present)" tells the story of modern child rearing and society's attempt to prepare children for every situation by engaging them in every experience imaginable.

Parents are encouraged to involve their children in everything from the youth soccer phenomena, which is represented by a bright orange Shawnee Soccer Club jersey hung on the mannequin of a 5 year-old, to accelerated reading programs. The belief being that the parent is maximizing the child's development.

"The right childhood activities, combined with regular practice, near fanatical devotion and intense parental guidance will enable every good, devoted parent to raise a perfect kid," said Alvin Rosenfeld, author of "The Overscheduled Child," whose words hang next to a display case of reading aids.

The exhibit is open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Sundays through June 1. The museum is at 6305 Lackman Road in Shawnee. Admission is free.

To reach Peter Boylan, call (816) 234-7723) or send e-mail to pboylan@kcstar.com.