To: WSFAlist at keithlynch.net
Date: Wed, 16 Apr 2003 14:29:06 -0400
Subject: [WSFA] Re: remembering childhood
From: ronkean at juno.com
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at keithlynch.net>

On Wed, 16 Apr 2003 11:29:16 -0400 "Ted White" <twhite8 at cox.net> writes:
>
> I didn't go trick-or-treating until I was almost too old for it, for
> two
> reasons:  the semi-rural nature of this area when I was younger, and
> my> parents' opposition to the practice.
>

Then it would be no good to use the first memory of trick or treating, in
your case, as a childhood memory indicator.  I suggested using trick or
treating memories on the assumption that parents would usually facilitate
their kids going trick or treating at the earliest possible age, and that
the unusual nature of the activity, involving getting a treasure of
candy, would impress upon the child's memory.

> I don't recall my *first* birthday party, but I recall them in
> general --
> they all followed the same pattern and involved family only; not
> like
> modern Take The Kids To Chucky Cheese birthday parties for kids.  I
> remember early Christmas celebrations better.
>

Christmas is probably as good or better a baseline than birthdays, for
families celebrating Christmas, since it makes a stronger impression, and
it would be celebrated every year, pretty much regardless of whether the
particular child was 'ready' to appreciate Christmas, especially if older
siblings are in the family.

> I do recall learning what "a week" was by the age of three -- I
> visualized
> it like a loop, with the weekend (no school) being the transition to
> the> next week.

Much of human activity runs on a weekly cycle, and once a child is in
school, even nursery school, where a weekly cycle rules, the child is
likely to learn what a week is.  So maybe age 5 (kindergarten age) is
when most children learn what a week is.

I recall > them
> singing the "What are little boys/girls made of" sing-song to me
> (which> seriously messed with my head, convincing me that girls were
"good"
> and> boys were "bad").
>

These days, that old nursery rhyme is probably in the realm of the
politically incorrect.

Ron Kean

.

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