Spock Was Right

One rarely hears his name mentioned any more (and, when it is, he is often mistaken for a Star Trek character), but 60 years ago Dr. Benjamin Spock published one of the most influential books of the post-war era. “Baby and Child Care” provided instruction to millions of struggling parents and revolutionized attitudes toward child-raising, which had heretofore followed a strict authoritarian model. According to Dr. Spock:

Don't be afraid to love [your baby]. . . . Every baby needs to be smiled at, talked to, played with, fondled -- gently and lovingly. . . . You may hear people say that you have to get your baby strictly regulated in his feeding, sleeping, bowel movements and other habits -- but don't believe this. He doesn't have to be sternly trained. . . . Be natural and comfortable and enjoy your baby. [Washington Post]

Dr. Spock became a symbol of the turbulent Sixties and early Seventies. He spoke out against the Vietnam War, and in the pushback that followed, he was blamed for the “permissiveness” that produced a generation of iconoclastic baby boomers. But back to the part of his biography that brought him fame.

His child-rearing advice is widely accepted today. There is a great deal of evidence that infants are healthier and better developed emotionally when they are touched and talked to by their mother. And when parents are not always close at hand, as in the case of hospitalized premature infants, nurses schedule regular times to hold and touch the babies.

Many of us assume that the need for human contact, which is so essential to the well-being of the very young, diminishes as we get older. The widespread and increasing use of cell phones and text-messaging devices puts paid to the notion that we crave less contact. When given the opportunity we communicate more, not less.

Just spending time with fellow human beings is an acute need for many of our older citizens, but their families are often preoccupied with their own lives or may live far away. Elders, especially those in retirement homes, may not have access to the communication avenues that many of us take for granted. Due to their reduced mobility they don’t have many opportunities for face-to-face interaction with others.

So during the months of May and June, when we honor our mothers and fathers, resolve to visit an elderly relative or friend. Bring them little personal gifts, such as toiletries, that they may have difficulty obtaining. More importantly, bring yourself. © 2006 Stephen Yuen