I went to the Museum of Childhood at Royal Mile yesterday to look up for information on my research. What I found there was utterly amazing and many times I found myself experiencing some sort of deja vu especially when I looked at the items on display. Who would have thought that they would be able to time travel (in a sense, yes) and look at things that were once used in their lives. At one point I felt like crying  -- somehow I felt very emotional, especially when I look at the old books, report cards, desks, chairs and many others that were so similar to the ones that I used when I was young.

The visit is definitely an eye-opener for me, anyway. I learned a lot of new things like, in the past children were forced to work. Of course, reading Dicken's Oliver Twist will tell you that. And certainly, most historical books will tell you pretty much the same thing. But to be able to see those photos and equipment that the chidren used was so heart renching. I can't imagine myself being subjected to a similar hardship. The children in the past (in the European context though) didn't have a past. It get me to think about children in Malay peninsular in the 17th/18th century. I wonder whether there has been any studies done on childhood or children in the past. It's also kind of funny to learn that the boys in the 19th century (1860 onwards) wore dresses like girls -- with three-quarter length sleeves and pleated skirts with matching capes. I wonder what Malay boys wore in the past. Do we have documents that tell us about the 17th or 18th century Malay boys/girls? Obviously, what we have been fed on the television (via dramas/films) cannot  be said to represent or tell us the real story or history.


It is new for me to learn that the musical toys that I bought for my kids actually date back to the 1100 BC. Wow, imagine the rattles, bells and whistles that our kids play with were also played by kids in the past. Even "talking picture books" that are so abundant nowadays were very popular in the late 19th century. In away you can say that whatever that we thought as modern is not really modern. Even toy trains that Arief and Firdaus love so much can be traced back to mid 19th century.

I also learned that bibs, aprons and napkins made their apperance in the early 20th century (1900-1930) with the aim to educate the kids i.e. teaching them correct table manner. Ouchhh...I doubt that our forefathers were that strict where eating is concerned. I can still remember how my mom made me eat using my right hand/fingers. But we didn't have bibs or aprons. The first nappies were made from linen, cotton was used from 1860s onwards and disposable diapers made its appearance in the 1970s. And for those of us (mothers) who can't make do without milk formulas, just imagine that the milk formulas were only digestible and nutritious from 1930s and not before. It must have been very difficult for our working grandmothers/greatgrandmothers.

I will have to leave you with that. Today I am going to spend sometime looking at old buildings and old books.