The danger is life-long expectancy of danger fear and confusion, all the stuff of nightmares.
The difficulty is the fears triggered by half-knowledge of their existence without knowing that solutions can be found. Many adult conversations end with the question hanging, as tantaliser; to a child, having the parent-oracle confounded is an intellectual minefield:
- HIV before birds and bees is now easy (leave out the transmission mechanisms until asked) compared to the social harrumphs.
- fear of strangers is an isolator.
- switching off from the ongoing genocides shows adult heartlessness. - poisonous mental and chemical ingestions reveal our ignorance.
Some tribal situations take an group out into the bush for a month with the local wise man. The guru is trusted to impart the tribal wisdoms and strategies. The children know no other influence.
Western children distrust all adults starting with advertisers, Lucky ones will find a reliable guru to come to trust: aunt, uncle, teacher, youth leader. Convicts can find approachable warders.
One prophylactic is the ability to control nightmares and night fears (very different animals.) Learning this skill removes much of the problem. Another is blanket coverage of the problems in the soaps – but too much leads to rejection. One solution we cannot leave to chance is by inoculation from the gutter press and friends. Too many interests vie for the dollar that buys a pacifier.
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