Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 November 1908 — THE CHILD MIND [ARTICLE]

THE CHILD MIND

Results of an Investigation Into Infant Mental Processes. Of forty-eight children, says Stanley Hall, twenty believed the sun, moon and stars to live, sixteen thought flowers could feel, and fifteen that dolls would feel pain if burnt. The sky was found the chief field in which • the chfldreta exercised their philosophic minds. About three-quar-ters of them thbught the'worm a plain With 1 the sky like a bowl turned over it, sometimes believing that it was of such thin texture that one could easily break through, though so large that much floor sweeping was necessary in heaven. The sun may enter the ground when it sets, but half Of the children thought that at night it rolls or fifes away, Or is blown, or walks, or God pulls it higher up out of sight, taking it iip into heaven, according to some, fritting It so bed; and eVeh taking Off its (riothes and' putting them bn again in the morning,'or agaih, Itris believed- to lie under the trees at' night and the angels mind IL God, of whom children, always hear so much, plays a very large part in these conceptions, anil is made directly responsible for all cosmic phenomena. Thus thunder to these American Children was God groariiri'g orikicking or rolling barrels abbot, dfr ! trirhing’ a big handle, or grinding snOw or 'brteaklng something; or ling : a big hammer 1 ,’ while the lightning was duetoGodputting his finger out, or turning the gas on quick, or striking matches, or setting paper on Are. According. to Boston children, God is a big, perhaps a blue man, to be seen in .the sky, on the clouds, in church, or even in the streets. They declare that God comes to see them and they have seen uim eritOr the gate. He makes lamps, babies, dogs, trees, money, etc., and the angels work for him. He looks like a priest or a teacher or papa, and the children like to look at him; a few would themselves like to be God. His house in the sky may be made of stone or brick; birds, children and Santa Claus live with God. Birds and beasts, their food and their furniture as Burnham points out, all talk to children when the dew Is on the grass “the grass is crying,” the stars are candles or lamps, perhaps cinders from God’s stove, butterflies are flying pansies, icicles are Christmas candy. Children have imaginary play—brothers and sisters and friends, with whom thej r talk. Sometimes God talks with them. Even the prosiest things are vivified; the trackr of dirty feet on the floor are flowers; a creaking chair talks; the shoemaker nails are children whom he is driving to school.