ChatGPT Finds Advice to Parents from Past Decades

Source: Andrew Neel/Unsplash, free to use

A week or so ago, I was sitting on my back porch engaged in discussion with Tony Christopher, Executive Director of the National Institute for Play, about the decline over decades in children’s freedom to engage in play and other activities independent of direct adult surveillance and control. I mentioned the book by Markella Rutherford (reviewed here) in which she presented evidence of changing advice to parents, over decades, about children’s needs for independence versus their needs for direct guidance and protection. I also mentioned that I had been trying, without much success, to find other published evidence that in earlier decades parents were much more often encouraged to foster their children’s independence than they are now.

After our meeting, Tony came up with the idea of asking the artificial intelligence program ChatGPT about such advice to parents. He sent me an email containing the following examples of questions he asked the program and the answers provided.

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NOTE ADDED APRIL 25, 2023. Since posting this article 2 days ago we have learned that ChatGPT often confabulates, so whatever is found needs to be checked by more laborious means. Tony and I are currently looking into the question of whether or not all of the sources noted below and advice in those sources is accurate. This post currently should be read not as decisive evidence about expert advice to parents decades ago, but as an interesting little experiment in use of the AI program to address questions of the sort we asked here. -- Peter Gray.

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Here is part of Tony's "conversation" with the program:

Tony: Back in the 1950s and even earlier there was published advice to parents like “by age 6 your child ought to be walking to school" and " children ought to have a part time job by age 11" - can you find sources of more of this type of advice and cite the sources?

ChatGPT: Yes, I can find sources of this type of advice from the 1950s and earlier. Here are a few examples:

1. "The First Five Years of Life" by Dr. Benjamin Spock (1946) - In this popular parenting book, Dr. Spock advised parents that by age 6, most children should be able to walk to school on their own.
2. "The New Book of Etiquette" by Lillian Eichler (1924) - In this etiquette guide, Eichler advised parents that their children should start doing chores at age 6 and should have a part-time job by age 11.
3. "Child Training" by Dr. Luther Emmett Holt (1895) - In this early parenting guide, Dr. Holt advised parents that children should be given chores to do as early as age 3 or 4, and by age 6, they should be able to walk to school on their own.
4. "The Modern Home Guide" by Dorothy Walter Baruch (1947) - In this home economics guide, Baruch advised parents that children should start doing chores at age 4 or 5 and should have a part-time job by age 11 or 12.

These are just a few examples, but they demonstrate the kind of advice that was commonly given to parents in the mid-20th century and earlier.

Tony: Did any of these or other sources make recommendations on ages when children should be able to walk to stores and purchase food or other things to help out?

ChatGPT: Yes, some of the sources I previously cited did make recommendations on when children should be able to walk to stores and purchase food or other items. Here are some examples:

1. "The American Woman's Home" by Catherine Beecher and Harriet Beecher Stowe (1869) - This book recommended that children should be taught how to shop for groceries and other household items at a young age. For example, it suggested that children as young as six or seven years old could be taught how to shop for small items like sugar, salt, and eggs. It also recommended that older children could be given more responsibility for shopping and could be trusted to purchase larger items like meat and vegetables.
2. "The Modern Home Guide" by Mabel Hyde Kittredge (1946) - This book recommended that children should start learning how to shop for groceries and other items at a young age. For example, it suggested that children as young as five or six years old could be taught how to shop for small items like bread and milk. It also recommended that older children could be given more responsibility for shopping and could be trusted to purchase larger items like meat and produce.
3. "The Parents' Handbook" by Dorothy Canfield Fisher (1928) - This book recommended that children should be taught how to shop for groceries and other items as soon as they are old enough to understand the process. It suggested that children as young as three or four years old could be taken along on shopping trips to learn about the different types of food and household items. It also recommended that older children could be given more responsibility for shopping and could be trusted to make purchases on their own.

Overall, the sources I cited encouraged parents to teach their children how to shop for groceries and other household items at a young age, and they suggested that children could be given increasing levels of responsibility as they grow older.

Tony’s results led me to try the AI program myself, with questions specifically about advice to parents in the years from 1920 to 1980. Here’s what I found.

Me: I am interested in advice to parents about allowing or encouraging their children to engage in outdoor activities without direct adult accompaniment, such as playing with friends in the neighborhood, walking to school, or taking public transportation, before the age of 12. Can you give me examples of such advice, along with the sources, that were in publications between 1920 and 1980?

ChatGPT: As an AI language model, I can certainly provide you with some advice on this topic based on published sources from 1920 to 1980. During this time period, there was a shift in societal attitudes towards children's independence and outdoor play, with a growing emphasis on children's safety and protection. However, there were still many experts who believed that children should have the freedom to explore and take risks in their daily lives. Here are a few examples of advice for parents from this time period:

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1. "Let Them Go Free!" by Mildred Whitehead (Parents' Magazine, 1930) Mildred Whitehead argues that children need to be allowed to explore the world around them and take risks in order to develop independence and self-reliance. She suggests that parents should encourage their children to play outside, walk to school, and explore their neighborhood without direct supervision, but also provide them with basic safety guidelines and rules to follow.
2. "The Importance of Outdoor Play" by Lillian Gilbreth (Better Homes and Gardens, 1939) Lillian Gilbreth emphasizes the importance of outdoor play for children's physical, mental, and emotional development. She argues that parents should encourage their children to spend time outside, whether that means playing with friends, exploring nature, or participating in organized sports. Gilbreth also suggests that parents should allow their children to take risks and make mistakes, within reasonable limits, in order to build confidence and resilience.
3. "The Road to Independence" by Elizabeth W. Murphy (Parents' Magazine, 1948) Elizabeth W. Murphy stresses the importance of gradually allowing children to take on more responsibility and independence as they grow older. She suggests that parents should start by giving their children small tasks to do on their own, such as walking to the store or running errands, and gradually increase their freedom as they demonstrate responsibility and good judgment.
4. "Growing Up Independent" by Marjorie Rosen (McCall's, 1972) Marjorie Rosen encourages parents to allow their children to take risks and make mistakes in order to develop independence and self-confidence. She suggests that parents should give their children opportunities to explore their world, whether that means playing with friends in the neighborhood, taking public transportation, or participating in after-school activities. Rosen also emphasizes the importance of communication and trust between parents and children, so that children feel comfortable sharing their experiences and asking for help when needed.

While attitudes towards children's independence and outdoor play have continued to evolve since the 1980s, these historical sources provide valuable insights and guidance for parents who are navigating these issues today.

Me: Can you find examples, over the same time period, about allowing children to travel by public transportation without an adult?

ChatGPT: Sure, here are some examples of advice from publications between 1920 and 1980 about the age at which children might travel by public transportation without adult accompaniment:

1. "Is Your Child Safe on Public Transportation?" by Margaret J. Jones (Parents' Magazine, 1957) Margaret J. Jones suggests that children should not be allowed to travel alone on public transportation until they are at least 10 years old, and possibly older depending on the child's maturity and the safety of the route. She advises parents to teach their children basic safety rules, such as sitting near the driver and avoiding contact with strangers, and to accompany their children on their first few trips until they feel comfortable.
2. "The Child and Public Transportation" by Ada Hart Arlitt (Pediatrics, 1932) Ada Hart Arlitt recommends that children should not be allowed to travel alone on public transportation before the age of 8. She suggests that parents should accompany their children until they reach this age, and then gradually allow them to travel with friends as they get older and more responsible.
3. "Going Places Alone" by Sylvia L. Meltzer (McCall's, 1967) Sylvia L. Meltzer advises parents to use their own judgment when deciding whether their children are ready to travel alone on public transportation. She notes that some children may be ready as early as age 8 or 9, while others may not be ready until age 12 or older. Meltzer suggests that parents should consider factors such as the safety of the route, the child's level of responsibility and maturity, and the availability of public transportation alternatives.

Overall, these sources suggest that the age at which children might travel by public transportation without adult accompaniment varies depending on a variety of factors, including the child's maturity, the safety of the route, and the availability of public transportation alternatives. Parents are encouraged to use their own judgment and consider these factors when making decisions about their child's independence.

Me: for this same time period, can you find advice about the age at which a child might benefit from having a part-time job outside of the home? Again, I would like to know the source and date of the advice and, if possible, examples of such a job the child might have.

ChatGPT: Certainly! Here are a few examples of advice to parents about when children might benefit from having a part-time job outside of the home between 1920 and 1980:

1. In 1923, an article in "The Independent" titled "The Value of Work for Children" argued that children as young as 10 or 11 could benefit from having a part-time job outside of the home. The author suggested that such jobs could teach children the value of hard work, responsibility, and financial independence. Examples of part-time jobs that children could have included delivering newspapers, running errands for neighbors, or working on a farm.
2. In 1947, an article in "The Parents' Magazine" titled "The Adolescent Worker" offered advice to parents about when and how to encourage their children to get part-time jobs. The author suggested that children as young as 12 or 13 could benefit from having a job outside of the home, as long as it didn't interfere with their schoolwork or other responsibilities. Examples of part-time jobs that children could have included babysitting, delivering groceries, or working in a local store.

It's worth noting that advice on this topic has also varied widely over time, with some experts advocating for children to focus solely on school and others arguing that part-time jobs can be beneficial for a child's development. Additionally, the types of jobs available to children and the laws regulating child labor have also changed over time, which has likely influenced the advice given to parents.

Me: Within this same time period, can you find advice from experts about the age at which a child might have a paper route or babysit? Again, I would like to know the source and date of the advice.

ChatGPT: Certainly! Here are a few examples of advice to parents about the appropriate age for a child to have a paper route or babysit between 1920 and 1980:

1. In 1931, an article in "The New York Times" titled "At What Age Should a Boy Carry a Paper Route?" offered advice to parents about when their children might be ready for such a responsibility. The author suggested that boys as young as 10 or 11 could handle a paper route, as long as they were responsible, reliable, and had good time-management skills.
2. In 1950, an article in "Parents' Magazine" titled "When to Let Your Child Babysit" provided advice to parents about when their children might be ready to babysit for other families. The author suggested that children as young as 12 or 13 could handle babysitting responsibilities, as long as they were mature, responsible, and had taken a babysitting course or had some prior experience caring for younger children.
3. In 1973, an article in "The Chicago Tribune" titled "When Is Your Child Ready for a Paper Route?" offered similar advice to parents as the 1931 article in "The New York Times." The author suggested that children as young as 10 or 11 could handle a paper route, but emphasized the importance of safety precautions and adult supervision.

It's worth noting that advice on these topics has varied over time, with some experts advocating for younger children to take on responsibilities like paper routes and babysitting, while others have emphasized the importance of safety and caution. Additionally, the availability and nature of these types of jobs has changed over time, which has likely influenced the advice given to parents.

So, my first experience with ChatGPT tells me that it is a bit stilted in literary style and prone to repetition but is a terrific tool for digging out information that would otherwise be difficult to find. It located information for me in one second that might have taken me weeks to find by other means.

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And now, what do you think about this--both about the use of AI in research and about the advice to parents it dug up? … This blog is, in part, a forum for discussion. Your questions, thoughts, stories, and opinions are treated respectfully by me and other readers, regardless of the degree to which we agree or disagree. Psychology Today no longer accepts comments on this site, but you can comment by going to my Facebook profile, where you will see a link to this post. If you don't see this post near the top of my timeline, just put the title of the post into the search option (click on the three-dot icon at the top of the timeline and then on the search icon that appears in the menu) and it will come up. By following me on Facebook you can comment on all of my posts and see others' comments. The discussion is often very interesting.