>>512384349
>but they just thought a more 'free form' sort of child rearing was the way to go.
This is very common in America now, but only became so recently. Prior to the mid 20th century and primarily the release of this book, American upbringings were categorized by discipline and ruthless control. Chores were as common as spankings, with the underlying idea that children are formless chaos that must be molded by strict instruction into functioning adults.

But then Dr Spock wrote this book, in which a successful adult is just waiting inside the child and only needs to be given the freedom to express itself, creating the modern style of laissez-faire childrearing. By the way, the first American generation raised this way was the boomer generation.