約翰·洛克的教育思想(中英對照)-21: 玩具

PLAY-GAMES | Play-things, I think, children should have, and of divers sorts; but still to be in the custody of their tutors or some body else, whereof the child should have in his power but one at once, and should not be suffered to have another but when he restored that. This teaches them betimes to be careful of not losing or spoiling the things they have; whereas plenty and variety in their own keeping, makes them wanton and careless, and teaches them from the beginning to be squanderers and wasters. These, I confess, are little things, and such as will seem beneath the care of a governor; but nothing that may form children's minds is to be overlooked and neglected, and whatsoever introduces habits, and settles customs in them, deserves the care and attention of their governors, and is not a small thing in its consequences.

玩具 |  我認為小孩應該有玩具，而且要有各種玩具；但是應該由導師或別的什麽人監管，小孩一次隻能玩一種，隻有他們歸還它以後才能拿另一種。這可以教他們早一點當心，不要丟棄或毀壞他們擁有的東西；然而若他們自己保管很多各種各樣的玩具，使他們揮霍與漫不經心，教他們一開始就奢侈浪費。我承認玩具是小事情，似乎不值得導師操心；但是能形成小孩心理的東西是不能忽視疏漏的，隻要在他們是引出習慣、形成慣例的，都值得導師的關心與注意，都不是影響很小的事情。

One thing more about children's play-things may be worth their parents' care. Though it be agreed they should have of several sorts, yet, I think, they should have none bought for them. This will hinder that great variety they are often overcharged with, which serves only to teach the mind to wander after change and superfluity, to be unquiet, and perpetually stretching itself after something more still, though it knows not what, and never to be satisfied with what it hath. The court that is made to people of condition in such kind of presents to their children, does the little ones great harm. By it they are taught pride, vanity and covetousness, almost before they can speak: and I have known a young child so distracted with the number and variety of his play-games, that he tired his maid every day to look them over; and was so accustomed to abundance, that he never thought he had enough, but was always asking, What more? What more? What new thing shall I have? A good introduction to moderate desires, and the ready way to make a contented happy man!

關於小孩的玩具還有一事值得父母關注。雖然他們應當有各種玩具，但我認為玩具都不該是買來的。這樣就不會使他們經常因為過多的玩具而見異思遷、貪多務得，不得安寧，雖然心裏不知道要什麽，卻不斷地追求更多的東西，從不滿足於已有的。宮廷中人們通過送禮給小孩來講條件，這對小孩有重大危害。在差不多能說話之前，他們因此就學會了驕傲、虛榮和貪婪：我知道一個小孩被他的眾多、各式各樣的玩物所分心，他總麻煩他的女仆去仔細察看；他非常習慣於大量豐富，從來不認為自己已經足夠了，總是問，還有什麽？還有什麽更多的嗎？有什麽新鮮玩藝兒我該有的？讓人有適度的欲望，是造就一個滿足快樂的人的現成方法。

"How then shall they have the play-games you allow them, if none must be bought for them?" I answer, they should make them themselves, or at least endeavour it, and set themselves about it; till then they should have none, and till then they will want none of any great artifice. A smooth pebble, a piece of paper, the mother's bunch of keys, or any thing they cannot hurt themselves with, serves as much to divert little children as those more chargeable and curious toys from the shops, which are presently put out of order and broken. Children are never dull, or out of humour, for want of such playthings, unless they have been used to them; when they are little, whatever occurs serves the turn; and as they grow bigger, if they are not stored by the expensive folly of others, they will make them themselves. Indeed, when they once begin to set themselves to work about any of their inventions, they should be taught and assisted; but should have nothing whilst they lazily sit still, expecting to be furnished from other hands, without employing their own. And if you help them where they are at a stand, it will more endear you to them than any chargeable toys you shall buy for them. Play-things which are above their skill to make, as tops, gigs, battledores, and the like, which are to be used with labour, should indeed be procured them. These, it is convenient they should have, not for variety but exercise; but these too should be given them as bare as might be. If they had a top, the scourge-stick and leather-strap should be left to their own making and fitting. If they sit gaping to have such things drop into their mouths, they should go without them. This will accustom them to seek for what they want, in themselves and in their own endeavours; whereby they will be taught moderation in their desires, application, industry, thought, contrivance, and good husbandry; qualities that will be useful to them when they are men, and therefore cannot be learned too soon, nor fixed too deep. All the plays and diversions of children should be directed towards good and useful habits, or else they will introduce ill ones. Whatever they do, leaves some impression on that tender age, and from thence they receive a tendency to good or evil: and whatever hath such an influence, ought not to be neglected.

 "如果不給他們買玩具，他們怎麽得到你允許他們的玩具呢？" 我的答複是，他們應該自己做，或者至少竭力去自己試著做；在此之前他們不該有任何玩具，在此之前他們不能有任何很精致的東西。一個光滑的卵石、一張紙、媽媽的一串鑰匙、或者任何不會傷害他們自己的東西，都可以讓小孩子玩得開心，不亞於從商店買來的花錢的、新奇的玩具，那些不久就會過時與損壞的。小孩若不是習慣玩玩具，他們從來不會因為缺少玩具而感到乏味與不高興的；當他們小的時候，他們玩什麽都可以；當他們長大後，假如不是別人愚蠢地花錢給他們買玩具，他們就會自己去做。實際上，一旦他們自己設法去製作他們的創造發明，就應該教導和幫助他們；但是如果他們自己不動手，隻是懶散地呆坐不動，期望別人提供給他們，他們就應該什麽也得不到。而且如果你在他們遇到困難時幫助他們，這比你給他們買任何花錢的玩具更讓他們感到親近。他們不能做的玩具，例如陀螺、小魚叉 、網拍，以及類似要耗費勞力的東西，確實該給他們買。這些他們為實用而應該擁有的東西，不是為了新奇多變，而是為了運動；不過這些應該盡量少給他們。如果他們有了陀螺，抽陀螺的棍子與皮帶應該讓他們自己做和搭配。如果他們隻想坐享其成，他們就不該得到這些。這可以讓他們習慣去自己努力、自己尋找他們需要的東西；借此他們會學會適度的欲望、勤奮、努力、思考、創意與節儉；這些品質對他們長大成人的時候很有用，所以不嫌學得太快，也不嫌紮根太深。小孩所有的遊戲和娛樂都應該以培養好的與有益的習慣，否則它們會使他們形成壞習慣。無論他們做什麽，都會在幼年留下一些印象，由此他們會形成好或壞的傾向：凡是有如此影響的事情都不該忽視。

 

摘自Some Thoughts Concerning Education (English-Chinese Edition)(ISBN-10: 1537479857)