MovieChat Forums > The Miracle Worker (1962) Discussion > Why didn't they childproof their house?

Why didn't they childproof their house?

posted 16 years ago by alivine
29 replies | jump to latest

As a parent myself I always wondered how could Helen's parents keep usual home furnishings, vases, glasses, forks, teapots with hot tea, etc. all around their house when they had a blind child who could easily drop/break things or hurt herself with sharp objects? In any modern house, you can easily tell if there is a young child there - even if his/her vision is 20/20. All breakable things, glasses and vases are removed from child's reach, the child eats from a plastic plate and drinks from a plastic cup, cupboard doors are secured, forks/knives/scissors are removed on a top shelf, etc. And there, Helen runs wild through the house and repeatedly throws things and breaks pitchers, and no one seems to think about placing a metal pitcher in her bedroom to avoid future mess and possible cuts. Of course, they had lots of housemaids to clean things day after day, but no one could always watch Helen and promptly remove broken glass. Why waste your time and money if you can easily prevent at least some damage?

[–] mynacion 16 years ago

It's probably because when Helen Keller was alive, it was still the 1800s or something like that... The houses and the customs weren't exactly "modern", were they?

Harry, if you die down there, you're welcome to share my toilet.

[–] OlLineRebel 16 years ago

This mother hasn't removed anything yet from her lower shelves or anything from her walking 1yo. I just watch him and don't let him get into things; he learns "no" ASAP. It worked then, and it works now.

[–] PubG 16 years ago

This is what you took away from The Miracle Worker? Concern for perventable damage to breakables?

[–] KesagakeBoy 13 years ago

You can't fight in here, this is the War Room!!!

[–] eric-1501 15 years ago

The breakage you saw was just in the movie, not in the real Keller household.
The Kellers probably did childproof their home, especially in light of the fact
that they had a growing, deaf & blind daughter. This was a "dramatic" movie
done in the 1960's, when directors felt the need to have actors scream at the
top of their lungs at least every 1/4 hour and break furniture, porcelein and
glasswear every 1/2 hour.

"Could be worse."
"Howwww?"
"Could be raining."

[–] BishopsPita 15 years ago

To Alivine: The events took place in the 1880s, 130 years ago. 'Childproofing' as a concept didn't exist until recently. Homes and social mores back then were very different. Can I say two words about you and your comments......Dim Bulb. Please 'childproof' that bulb before parading it around children.

[–] BishopsPita 15 years ago

[–] tsquiers 15 years ago

I was a child in the 70s and early 80s and childproofing didn't even exist then. This is a "new" concept as of the late 80s...and by saying that - that's about when they came out with covers for electrical outlets.

[–] lroy77 15 years ago

I was a child of the 60s and 70s (I was only an infant when the movie came out).

They did have covers for electrical outlets. My parents kept matches and house cleaners above the refrigerator. They had hook locks on top of all the doors. So childproofing existed even back in 1962.

I'm sure childproofing as a concept existed since the very beginning. Just the items that is being childproofed has changed.

You don't think cavemen stopped the kids from playing with fire? None of us would be here.

[–] macgirl66 14 years ago

I grew up in the late 60's, and I know my parents used outlet covers and had latches to keep the lower kitchen cabinets from being opened by me and my brother. Many of this stuff existed, it just was not as prevalent as it is now.

BTW, I also agree with the above poster who stated that when this movie was made, they did MUCH just for dramatic effect.

[–] Moon_and_New_York_City 14 years ago

when I saw the subject header, I LOL'd.... then I read the OP and realize this is a serious post! How....odd. I also got a good chuckle from the "this is what you took away from the Miracle Worker? concern for prevention of breakable objects?!?" post.

Besides thinking about how long ago the movie was set and how recent the whole concept of "childproofing" is..... keep in mind, the Kellers had "tamed" Helen pretty good by appeasing to her every whim so they hardly had reason or concern for her breaking anything... that is of course, until Annie Sullivan showed up.

And then the objects breaking was obviously part of a necessary plot device in the critical "fight for authority" scene.

"the best that you can do is fall in love"

[–] macgirl66 14 years ago

Very good point.

To each their own...opinion

[–] Fire God 9 years ago

It's not a new concept. It's a new word, and has become much more mainstream and sophisticated as of late, but the idea of keeping certain things out of the hands of youngins certainly isn't new.

[–] Frumious_Bandersnatch_46 14 years ago

Think of the where-and-when:

Helen Keller was born June 27, 1880, in Tuscumbia, Alabama, USA.

Modern ideas of child-proofing were eighty years in the future. I don't think they had much in the way of electrical outlets to worry about. What they did have was a house full of servants. I'm sure that they — and her mother — were charged with keeping a watchful eye on her at all times.

And, as someone else pointed out, it's quite likely that the breakage and the temper tantrums were dramatic license on the part of the writer.

BTW: Miss Keller passed away June 1, 1968, in Easton, Connecticut, USA.

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