In 1900, Swedish design reformer Ellen Key stated that the “century of the child” was upon us, predicting that we’d spend the next 100 years addressing how children should be raised and nurtured. Now, we can safely say that Key was right. We live in a time where dad bloggers, car seat designers, Diaper Genies and mountains of parenting books are the norm. Century of the Child: Growing by Design, a new exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art, begins with Key’s statement and tries to explain how we got to this point, through a history of children’s toys and memorabilia. The show tries to address so many facets of childhood — politics, ethics, philosophy — that the narrative thread isn’t totally clear. What does become clear, however, is that our ideas of child rearing are constantly in flux, changing through time and across cultures.
At the start of the 20th century, children were viewed as miniature adults. These notions began to shift as the exploration of childhood development blossomed. Out of the dark, somber wood of spartan school houses came the playful techniques of Maria Montessori, an Italian medical student with an interest in children with learning disabilities. Montessori believed that physical objects would stimulate children’s senses, and her activity-based teaching methods and colorful learning toys (see above image) inspired designers and schools around the world. Montessori’s work established childhood as an integral realm of study for philosophers, psychologists, artists and designers.
Left: Poster by El Lissitzky, 1929. Right: Pamphlet by Paul (Geert Paul Hendrikus) Schuitema, 1927-28. From the Museum of Modern Art collection.
The decade between the two world wars repositioned children as a symbol of national pride. To nourish these torch bearers, designers looked to three themes: light, air and health. Architect Jan Duiker addressed these themes in his open-air school for the healthy child, built in Amsterdam in the late 1920s. Each floor of the steel-framed structure featured cantilevered gardens and large, open windows, looking more like a modern oasis than a scholastic environment. Printed material from the era encouraged proper nutrition and physical exercise, even for the tiniest of toddlers.
The exhibition isn’t all smiles and delight — an unexpected darkness hovers around the edges. Military exploits were (and still are) fodder for child-targeted designs; an Italian child’s tableware set manufactured by Richard Ginori features illustrations of pith helmets, rifles, tanks and other symbols of colonialism. A 1930s child’s kimono from Japan hangs from the ceiling of the gallery, its fabric patterned with images of armed soldiers and boy scouts. World War II posters and Soviet-era advertisements promoted the shining face of youth as the pillar of society. An Italian poster from 1935 panders to the country’s young boys, encouraging them to join dictator Bernito Mussolini’s army when they grow up. A later exhibit mentions the AK-47, ”an assault rifle designed in the Soviet Union at the end of World War II … simple and light enough to be wielded, stripped and reassembled by child soldiers as young as eight years old.”
Fortunately, the exhibition rounds out with a view of the slew of international designers determined to create nurturing items for children that celebrate the preciousness of growing up. For example, Renate Müller’s therapeutic hippopotamus, one of her many burlap-sewn beasts, aid in the development of children’s tactile senses. Sven-Eric Juhlin’s creation of the sippy-cup signaled the first effort to design an item for children, rather than miniaturizing adult goods. Other incredibly compelling items in the show were developed for disabled children: Twan Verdonck’s Tummy helps children deal with anxiety, while the Krabat Jockey chair is designed to help children with cerebral palsy.
Indoor play area by Renate Müller, 1985. Collection of Zesty Meyers and Evan Snyderma
At this exhibit, I expected to see midcentury modern toys, bubbly and rainbow colored, pristinely sealed in glass vitrines. MoMA still delivers just that, despite the show’s heavy undertone. Inspiring toys from the 1960s-1990s provide a moment to reflect upon the pure joy of being a kid. And any retrospective on childhood just wouldn’t be right without a Slinky or Legos, both of which make an appearance. But no matter how colorful or silly, every object designed with children in mind comes with heavy implications hidden behind a layer of innocence. Children take cues from their surroundings, which are shaped by designers, politicians and parents. The objects in the exhibition show our struggle to determine how children should be raised. Just as growing up is a learning process, so is figuring out what’s best for our kids.
Chappell Ellison is a designer, writer and design writer. She currently lives in Brooklyn, New York where she serves as a contributor for The Etsy Blog and design columnist for GOOD.
54 comments
Sign in to add your ownLivingVintage from LivingVintage says:
Interesting! Great subject for an exhibition.
298 days ago
OuterKnits from OuterKnits says:
Fascinating!
298 days ago
Kirsten Gilmore from PaintingsByKEGilmore says:
The conjoined school desk pictured is beautiful...but I doubt the designer has ever taught young children. ;)
298 days ago
Michelle from MishaGirl says:
Interesting read!
298 days ago
Hillary De Moineaux from VoleedeMoineaux says:
So fun!!!!!!!
298 days ago
SpareBedroomStudio from SpareBedroomStudio says:
What an interesting post!
298 days ago
Jess from volkerwandering says:
Very neat article. The indoor play area is cute too~!
298 days ago
IcingOnTheCupcake from IcingOnTheCupcake says:
Very interesting, I'm sure an excellent exhibit to see in person.
298 days ago
Ayshma from ArtPieces says:
Wow, amazing, I really want to see this exhibition, :( But Iwould not be able to see it. thanx for posting this, atleast I got to know about this :)
298 days ago
iammie from iammie says:
Interesting! :)
298 days ago
Christina from thewhitepepper says:
Former Montessori school teacher here! So glad to see her mentioned..she was an amazing woman, doctor and educator!!
298 days ago
VaLon Frandsen from thevicagirl says:
That looks really good. I now need a field trip, I can tell.
298 days ago
Matejka Max from NattyMatty says:
Fun!!!
298 days ago
Merie Jessie from MerieJewel says:
so nice!
298 days ago
TheIDConnection from TheIDconnection says:
I just love the desk!
298 days ago
Mei-Ling Uliasz from twitchandwhiskers says:
Had a chance to visit the exhibit last week. I was so inspired by the innovative and whimsical design. LOVED seeing parts of Pee Wee's Playhouse there and sitting in the over-sized chair at the beginning of the exhibit. Highly rec!
298 days ago
Emily Delfin from reflectionsjewelry says:
Children truly are shaped by their surroundings. Makes you think about what your kid has for influences.
298 days ago
Christine from FineArtWithaTwist says:
That poster is pretty disturbing. I love the toys... and the desk is just awesome!
298 days ago
Vinpro Elegance from vinproelegance says:
Interesting post!
298 days ago
CB DESIGN'S from CBDesignsPR says:
Very interesting!
298 days ago
Melissa Bonte from SurfingBaby says:
This is a really interesting article. My late grandmother had her PhD in Psych and has some fairly famous papers published on the 'effects of war in children's play.' She was in Hawaii during Pearl Harbor and spent many hours studying kids playing on the playground after the attack. This article reminded me of her work. Thanks for sharing.
298 days ago
pasin from Pasin says:
interesting post!
298 days ago
Becky from BirdiesCozyNest says:
Seems like adults need to take cues from our children, by following what they love and providing for them the tools and support and love to follow their passions, no matter how often that changes.
298 days ago
PinkCheetahVintage from PinkCheetahVintage says:
Loved Moma when I got to visit a couple of years ago. I've actually started getting rid of a ton of my kids toys. It seemed like too many toys was overwhelming and they couldn't focus to play. Now, with less toys, I find them playing more and even getting much more creative. Toys=fun :)
298 days ago
Rikki from Riksride says:
Inspires another collector avenue! Still nothing beats the big ash wood blocks and, Lincoln Logs..any mention of the Rudolf Steiner, Waldorf School and the basic toys for children that are so popular today? Over 1400 items connected to the Waldorf/Steiner philosophy are currently for sale on Etsy. Almost the same amount for Montessori... always a struggle to raise a child in today's violent society...the whole toy gun issue never goes away!
298 days ago
Gabriel Montes from bosquecarpentry says:
I was interested in toy making at on point, but my nephews found a way to break everything I let them test. Frankly, the liability scared me. So, now I just make things for big kids, like me.
298 days ago
Wei from HoneyThistle says:
This sounds like such a cool exhibit. Would love to go back to NY & visit the MoMA since I missed out the first time.
298 days ago
Penny Birch-Williams from PennyBirchWilliams says:
Wish I could see this exhibit! I think it shows the slow but steady growth of understanding childhood and how influences from many sources affect children growing up. Toys, advertising, education, television, games, and so much more are specifically designed and aimed at kids, sometimes with a message that is not so benign. (That USSR poster is just plain freakish.) Mostly though I think (and hope) designers are looking to enhance the growth and expanding intellect of children. But I always encouraged lots of time with art supplies, physical activity, legos, blocks, puppets, books, and other things to stimulate creativity when homeschooling, and less time with tv, video games, and more passive activities. Worked for us!
298 days ago
Arlene and Emily from PaperThyme says:
Wonderful post!
298 days ago
Patti Trostle from PattiTrostle says:
Great post! Thanks!
298 days ago
Ashley Lowe from FancyFawn says:
Very interesting read!
298 days ago
Leila from DressyDollsCompany says:
Thank you!
298 days ago
June from isewcute says:
Fascinating article!
298 days ago
amusebeads from amusebeads says:
It's nice that so much is available that caters to the various and unique needs and learning style of each individual child. I wish more parents and teachers would take advantage of the opportunity to teach a child in the best way possible for that child.
298 days ago
Zane Saracene from Zalavintage says:
We were just talking about this last week with photos from another exhibit, Ivy Style, (Preppy), how when I was a child I stood in the backseat of my moms lincoln convertible, wind blowing my hair, my arms wrapped around her neck to hold on as we sped 20 mph to the grocery store, it was freedom...now I've seen parents slapping the playground when their child falls down, bad sidewalk...bad sidewalk... while I was the parent who received the dirty looks when my daughter fell down and I laughed and told her to get up and go, what's the big deal? what are we giving up when we allow ourselves to be strapped in and teaching our children to conform to the ridiculous...
298 days ago
Lori Mittan from MonCheriShop says:
Interesting article. As a young mother of a 13 month old girl, I'm constantly learning, relearning, and still trying to figure out what is best. I read a blogger article of a minimalist new mom stating that her baby daughter would never know commercial-based toys. My first thought was "yeah, I totally agree with that!" Then my thought turned to my daughter with her plush Elmo doll and how she carries it everywhere. She adores it. Instead of waking up crying in the morning in her crib, she wakes up and plays with it. It' teaching her how to entertain herself, which is great. It just goes to show there is no right way to raise a child. *The main focus on raising a child is love: for them to know that they are loved and how to love others.*
298 days ago
Aleta Ford Baker from AletaFordBakerDesign says:
what? no train sets and Barbies?
298 days ago
Aly Parrott from alyparrott says:
Great, great post. Thank you for sharing this!
298 days ago
Patricia Bryant from AveryBethDesigns says:
very well written. such a deep perspective. it is definitely the case that we still deal with the issue of how best to raise and treat our children. it would have been fascinating to see a collection of children's toys from throughout the decades.
298 days ago
Victoria Baker from LittleWrenPottery says:
Great article, I loved visiting the museum of childhood in edinburgh when I was there. So fascinating to take a look back into childhoods past.
297 days ago
Jan Penn from MinaMinette says:
Aren't those colors amazing on the indoor play area??!! I could play there all day!
297 days ago
Amber from BambuEarth says:
♥ Love this post. Thanks for sharing. Wish I could see the exhibit.
297 days ago
Connie from LittleTurtleHatShop says:
Love this post!! Interesting read.
297 days ago
Laura from peachtreedesigns3 says:
I, too, wish I could go see this exhibit. What an interesting history.
297 days ago
Andrew Konkle from Theteepeeguy says:
Wow, different times for sure. The USSR poster is a curious if creepy piece. Toys abound today on Etsy, take a look around.
296 days ago
Ying Guo from YingArt says:
Wish I could find these toys for my kid, even though I didnt have them when I was little.
296 days ago
buck rogers says:
Its refreshing to see the study of our influences we pose onto children, as they are the future. A small peek of curiosity in a youngsters mind can go a long way. Great article!
296 days ago
Suzanne Urban from SmirkingGoddess says:
Great article, don't have kids but work in an educational institution.
296 days ago
Mel Ladner from epicstitching says:
It's nice to read a statement on childrens toys and raising them that isn't about coddling our children or "protecting" them to death. Obviously we don't want children in warfare or carrying guns but I think many times these days people are imposing the idea of fear on their children. Fear everything and thus making us a more violent society as then we react with an instinct to survive instead of an instinct to help each other. it's a study that could likely go on forever and never have an answer everyone agrees upon. However I think it's important that we challenge our belief in raising children often so as to always be trying to better them (and ourselves).
296 days ago
Brandy and Tyler from BrandyCupcakesStudio says:
Parenting is truly the most difficult job I have ever had. It is so easy for me, personally, to find myself completely overthinking every decision I make, from toys to food to books, spending more time debating the "best" path/life for my child than actually attempting to help her attain it. I continually remind myself that so many people I know(and so many before them throughout the ages) were raised in drastically different ways, and they all turned out ok. Not all, but certainly many or most. As long as I love my child as much as possible, and provide the best I am capable of providing for her(healthy food, books and toys that encourage her to think, act, move), she is probably going to be ok. Just like I am, despite not having been exposed to every expensive educational toy, best quality diet and child rearing philosophy under the sun. I just do the best I can, and hope that my child realizes that's what I am doing.
295 days ago
Windy City Novelties says:
Love the old school desk!
295 days ago
Nerrissa W from RecycledWares says:
i like toys that make a child think and be creative.
295 days ago
pogoshop from pogoshop says:
Super interesting!
295 days ago
Monique Flannagan from BlueSquiggle says:
Fascinating article! I want to know more! Love all the little containers!
293 days ago