In Reply to: Re: A question for ex-childcare workers posted by Donny on March 10, 2003 at 14:56:55:
As a kid I had few toys in the group, and whenever we moved (every few months) the toys didn't always move with us. I never had a Barbie doll, couldn't afford them then I was too old for them. My sisters had a few when we left the group the first time, but had to give up all toys when we rejoined. The only thing that managed to come to Asia with us was my brother's red 'blankie' but it was disposed of when we had to leave Thailand and get rid of extras.
Of course, with the beginning of the school vision all toys became public property and a part of the group you were in, no longer your private belonging. Even before the schools began though it seemed that even if it was 'your' toy you were expected to share it with everyone else, or else you would be 'selfish'.
It did seem that around 9 or so kids were expected to put away their toys and take a step toward maturity, spending more time 'in the Word', witnessing, studying to show yourself approved unto God. When I taught kids at the HCS, only the very youngest of groups actually had toys, but around 10 years or so, the groups no longer had toys, but spent more time reading, outdoor sports, working around the place. They were very busy and expected to pull their load, not to mention preparing for PR shows and then later with the video ministry coming into effect they were often called on to be in those videos.
The sad part is that kids didn't have time to be kids. Life was fully scheduled and kids were coralled in groups and kept on a tight leash. They rarely ever were able to just 'waste time'. They couldn't watch whatever they wanted on TV, they couldn't pull out their toys at any time of day and play.
Times may be different now with the breakup of schools and with the Charter giving more freedom to kids, I don't know, I haven't been to any 'normal' Homes since we left and my kids have been raised very differently from how I raised children of the group.
But back to unwritten rules, it seemed there was an unwritten rule against Barbie dolls and I am scratching my brain trying to remember if any kids I knew had them, and I don't recall any. Barbies were deemed worldly and a waste of money, along with most other toys. Toys were usually bought on a basis of educational value, if bought at all. We generally relied on provisioned stuff for birthday presents and Christmas. It actually wasn't until the mid-90s that we even began to really celebrate Christmas with presents under the tree.