Hints On Child Training

About a year ago, I read a book called 'Hints on Child Training' written by H. Clay Trumbull, a Christian author from the late 1800's. Trumbull wrote the book after his children were grown, and his purpose was just to share a glimpse into the life of his family when his children were young and being trained at home.

I think he does a great job illustrating simple, everyday circumstances that come up regularly in a home with children and how to think about different situations from a Christian perspective. I also like the fact that Trumbull is not trying to push any certain methods or ideas, but rather allowing readers to see how one Christian family chose to live. It's also interesting to me that although the book was written over 100 years ago, I can understand and relate to almost everything he writes about in the book.

One of the specific chapters that I found helpful was entitled “Training Children to Sabbath Observance”. The main point of this segment is to emphasize that Sunday is a different day and that it should also stand out as the best day of the week to the whole family, including the children. He writes that every Sunday is a like a Christian anniversary and so we should treat the day like we would any other birthday or anniversary celebration....best clothes, best food, etc.

Another Sabbath Day “best” that Trumbull suggested, which I thought was really interesting, was to have the best toys out for Sundays. He said that in their family they had a Sunday box with several of the most interesting and enjoyable toys for their children so that it would help them be extra excited for Sunday and to help the day stand out in their little minds. This obviously takes some time and work to rotate toys and have special things ready, but to quote Trumbull, “whether at home, or at Sunday school or any other church service, the children should be helped to realize that the day is a day of brightness and of cheer; that while differing in its occupations and enjoyments from all other days, it is the best of them all.”

*This book review is from our January 2009 meeting.*