CHILDREN’S FEARS—REAL AND TANGIBLE

Shannon News, 7 April 1926, Page 4

CHILDREN’S FEARS—REAL AND TANGIBLE

Is it an exaggeration to say that a child’s fears al’e as rear and tangible as those which oppress grown-ups? May we not rather go further and say the child’s fears are greater in comparison, for he has not the power of reasoning with himself? “Is it going to be windy to-night, Nannie?” he questions on his way to bed, and “don’t forget to leave the door open, it’s so dark when it’s shut,” he calls after her as she leaves the room. Probably she obeys his request, or perhaps she tells him to go to sleep and not be silly, that there is nothing to hurt him. And, truly, tlio darkness itself cannot hurt him; but no more can a small, terrified mouse harm a full-grown, agile woman, yet there are many such who at the first whisper of “mouse” will leap from their chairs, blanch with fear, and even give vent to hysterical shrieks! . But. how, you ask, can a child's fears of a windy night he compared with a woman’s fears of the same storm when she pictures a beloved husband or brother battling in that storm faced with imminent disaster, perhaps death itself? , The woman can reason with herself. f&e ipan assure hei’self that her husband or brother has every means at hand fbr averting disaster; he has wireless by which to summon assistance, and he knows the power and endurance of his ship. If such thoughts do not wholly allay her fears, they,, at least, bring her a measure of comfort. But the little, child in his' cot; he lies in the darkness listening to the wild roaring round the house; ’rising one moment to hurricane force, then dying away again to a fitful moaning, and the sounds conjure up living objects, which seem to draw near and swarm over his bed. He cannot argue Avith himself that these are but the thoughts of an imaginative brain, and he knows it is useless to call for mother or nurse. “What is ' the matter, darling?” mother would say,, apd he is tonguetied. The ghosts and images of darkness have vanished with the opening of the door and the approach of mother’s caudle; and, in any case, he has not the language at his command to express his feelings. GroAvn-ups liaA’C another <• advantage. They can always take precautions against the things that alarm them. The woman who, living alone,, suffers from the fear of burglars breaking into the house, can have as many bolts and bars fitted to the doors and windows as she thinks necessary to* safeguard herself. But if a child is worried before sleep comes to him with the knowledge that there is nothing to prevent a man from entering his room through the open .Avindow, he cannot take precautions. Nor doe§ he even speak about it 1 ; he feels the groAvn-ups would not understand; they would assure, him of her perfect safety; but such words are small comfort to him when he lies alone Avith his thoughts. - Children live in a world of their OAvn, which,, by reason of their increased knowledge, older people cannot. enter, but sympathy and helpful explanations to the little ones’ halting question will do far more than is often realised to allay childish troubles, and make childhood days a joyous memory throughout subsequent years.—GlasgOAv Weekly Herald.