Hints on Child-Training

Thirty years ago, when I was yet a young father, a friend, who knew that I had for years been interested in the study of methods of education, said to me, “Trumbull, what is your theory of child-training?” “Theory?” I responded. “I have no theory in that matter. I had lots of theories before I had any children; but now I do, with fear and trembling, in every case just that which seems to be the better thing for the hour, whether it agrees with any of my old theories or not.”

Whatever theory of child-training may show itself in these Hints, has been arrived at by induction in the process of my experiences with children since I had to deal with the matter practically, apart from any preconceived view of the principles involved. Every suggestion in these Hints is an outcome of experiment and observation in my life as a father and a grandfather, while it has been carefully considered in the light of the best lessons of practical educators on every side.

These Hints were begun for the purpose of giving help to a friend. They were continued because of the evident popular interest in them. They are sent out in this completed form in the hope that they will prove of service to parents who are feeling the need of something more practical in the realm of child-training than untested theories.

H. Clay Trumbull

Philadelphia, September 15, 1890

This classic parenting manual includes the following chapters:

1. Child-Training: What Is It?
2. The Duty of Training Children
3. Scope and Limitations of Child-Training
4. Discerning a Child’s Special Need of Training
5. Will-Training, Rather than Will-Breaking
6. The Place of “Must” in Training
7. Denying a Child Wisely
8. Honouring a Child’s Individuality
9. Letting Alone as a Means of Child-Training
10. Training a Child to Self-Control
11. Training a Child Not to Tease
12. Training a Child’s Appetite
13. Training a Child as a Questioner
14. Training a Child’s Faith
15. Training Children to Sabbath Observance
16. Training a Child in Amusements
17. Training a Child to Courtesy
18. Cultivating a Child’s Taste in Reading
19. The Value of Table-Talk
20. Guiding a Child in Companionships
21. Never Punish a Child in Anger
22. Scolding is Never in Order
23. Dealing Tenderly with a Child’s Fears
24. The Sorrows of Children
25. The Place of Sympathy in Child-Training
26. Influence of the Home Atmosphere
27. The Power of a Mother’s Love
28. Allowing Play to a Child’s Imagination
29. Giving Added Value to a Child’s Christmas
30. Goodnight Words