Published in 1946, The Common Sense Guide to Baby and Child Care became an instant sensation, drastically changing the way parents, for years to come, would raise their children. In the twentieth century, Baby and Child Care sold over 46 million copies, making it the second best selling book next to the Bible. The book was easy to read and provided the answers to common questions about child care, from diapering to temper tantrums. But what really set Spock’s writing apart from those before him, was his belief that parents should be nurturing, supportive, and accepting. He still advised parents to be firm, but not too strict or forceful; each child is different, which requires flexibility and understanding in every aspect of growth.

Perhaps Schulz read Spock himself, or at least heard of his techniques from others, and implemented these philosophies into his own home. Although, we don’t know much about the Schulz children, there are direct references to them through Peanuts, and reveal the child-centered viewpoint in American culture. The Peanuts world epitomizes America ’s child-centered society; in fact all aspects of the comic revolve around the neighborhood youngsters and their lives. Adults may have sporadic cameos, but only through the child’s perspective.

Baby and Child Care begins “You know more than you think you do,” reassuring adults in much the same way that he suggests them to do with their own children. In the 1968 revised edition, Spock admits the greatest changes he made to the book were a result of the overwhelming pressure parents felt in a child-centered home. To clarify he says,

“I mean the tendency of many conscientious parents to keep their eyes exclusively focused on their child, thinking about what he needs from them and from the community, instead of thinking about what the world, the neighborhood, the family will be needing from the child and then making sure that he will grow up to meet such obligations” (xvi).

In many ways, Schulz illustrates both kinds of parental care in the Peanuts comic. There is always a sense that parents are close by and aware of their children’s needs. For example in the following strip, Sally is comforted, yet somewhat annoyed by her mother’s watchful eye.

And yet, there is also evidence that the Peanuts children are very conscious of the world around them and the problems of the global community. Whether this awareness is encouraged by the hidden parental figures, or an interpretation of Schulz’s own children, or his purposeful melding of adult thinking in children’s bodies, there is certainly some of Spock’s advice in the Peanuts world (or vice versa).

Spock’s psychology was grounded in Freudian theory, but like many Americans he focused primarily on the “possibilities of creating a democratic person who was at peace with both self and society” (Hawes 540). Lucy, the Peanuts self-appointed resident psychologist, may not be that helpful in leading her ‘patients’ to inner peace, but the element of hope and possibility is ingrained in Schulz’s entire creation. For example, Charlie never does score the winning run in baseball, but he never gives up. Schulz keeps us hoping that Charlie might one day succeed. But no matter how low Charlie Brown gets, he will always be America ’s lovable loser. And if America can respect and love Charlie Brown despite all of his flaws and shortcomings, then there surely must be hope for the rest of us.

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