Most of us sci-fi junkies associate the name Spock with the Vulcan First Officer of the starship Enterprise. Long before him, though, there was another Spock, Dr. Benjamin Spock, who on this day released his book The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care which has received acclaim and criticism alike.
Born in 1903, Spock had his first dabbling in parenting by helping to raise his five younger siblings. He and his wife, Jane, had two of their own children when they collaborated to write this book. To understand why Spock wrote the book, one must understand the parenting techniques of the time.
“Typical of the time was child psychologist John B. Watson’s 1930 book Behaviorism, in which he wrote, “Never, never hug or kiss them, never let them sit in your lap. If you must, kiss them once on the forehead when they say goodnight. Shake hands with them in the morning.
“Dr. Spock advocated a more hands-on, affectionate approach that encouraged parents to follow their common-sense instincts—for example, to feed a hungry, wailing baby rather than adhere to an inflexible feeding schedule. Instead of keeping children at arm’s length, he advocated that parents spend quality time bonding with their children and nurturing their individuality. To critics who blamed him for an epidemic of overindulged young people, he once said, “I didn’t want to encourage permissiveness, but rather to relax rigidity.””1
I’m sure we would agree with the concepts of love and tenderness. However, much of Spock’s advice went contrary to the Word of God. He was opposed to corporal punishment or any form of punishment that focused on what wrong was done. Instead, we should try to be supportive, understanding why the child chose a particular behavior. This foolish concept has created issues in the homes and schools that we never had in the past. Instead of authority figures being obeyed and respected, they are supposed to adapt for the child or student.
Christians, the book of Proverbs should be our guide to raising children. It starts with an understanding that God intended for us to love and nurture them. The early 1900s approach that was filled with rigidity and a lack of affection is not Biblical. Before looking
at Proverbs, though, consider the greatest example of showing love and affection for a child.
Mark 10:13-16 says, “And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. (14) But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer [allow, let] the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. (15) Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. (16) And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.”
The Psalmist gives another passage that would lead us to believe that love and affection were shown to children in Bible days, meaning it should continue today. Psalms 127:3-5 says, “Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. (4) As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. (5) Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.”
Now, let’s think about Proverbs. Proverbs 17:6 says, “Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.” Do you treat your children like that crown and like they are glorious?
Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” We are to train them, Dr. Spock. Not the other way around! THAT is what shows you love them!
Proverbs 23:13-14 says, “Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. (14) Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.” While the word “beat” has a broad range of meaning, anything from smack to kill, we know that the Lord is NOT advocating abuse. That would go contrary to other passages of Scripture and to the example the Lord sets Himself.
Proverbs 3:11-12 tells us that God chastens us. “My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: (12) For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; 
even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.” God has never beat nor abused me. Not once, though there were plenty of times I deserved a good beat down (just a phrase not meant to convey abuse) – it is not abuse). Instead, our correction of children should model His. It is with love, for our good, and intended to put us on the right course, not a path of rebellion.
And, contrary to what Dr. Spock may have written or believed, good things come from the disciplining of our children. The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care should be the Bible in the home of everyone, especially the Christian. Open that Book today and practice what it says.
“The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.” (Proverbs 29:15)
1https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/july-14/dr-spock-baby-and-child-care-book
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