Milk Time – Childhood objects and memories
Representing Welfare in Modern British Childhood 1948 – 2012Rhian Harris, Director, V&A Museum of Childhood
Empty
Fill me up
Milk of human kindness
Mother love
Fill me up
Empty breakfast belly
Dreams and possibilities
Fill me up
Brimful of justice
Education, rights
Fill me up
Sodden with milky hope
We must care for the hungry child
We must care for the sick and the old
In the give and take
Surely
We can afford
To fill me up
MMR Vaccine
When I was born, everybody feared me.
Last year, lots of people decided they didn’t want me.
One month ago, people debated for and against me.
One hour ago, my needle sunk into a poor toddler’s smooth skin.
One minute ago, all my excess liquid was poured down the drain.
Now, I am in a hospital bin.
I am the dreaded MMR.
However, what I found completely unacceptable was the blatant left wing bias, almost bordering on propaganda… As a charity funded organisation I would not expect for such comments, over and over again which made out that new Labour was the best thing since slice bread and did far more for children than anyone else and prior to 1997. There should be absolutely no political bias in an exhibition like this…
I found the political element of the exhibition unpleasant and weird. There was token multi-culture, Labour's family groups, Tories - the last thing I'd expect in an exhibition.
Thought-provoking - good explanation/description of the changes in childhood, parenting, family structure and welfare provisions.
The exhibits helped explain the history of childhood to me. As I am only 9 years old I have a lot to learn. My particular favourites were Blue Peter as I have a badge and Muffin the Mule.