Freud_Burlingham_1943_War_and_Children_k_text

of children has, therefore, little chance to buildup itsfuture psychological health and normalitywhich will be needed for the reconstructionof the world after the war. To counteractthese deficiencies, war-time care of childrenhas to be more elaborate and more carefullythought out than in ordinary times of peace.On the basis of these convictions our effortsare directed towards four main achievements:To repair damage alreadyby war conditions tocausedthe bodily and mentalhealth of children. We, therefore,accept children who have suffered throughbombing, shelter sleeping, indiscriminateevacuation and billeting. We try to serveon the one hand as a convalescent homeand on the other, whenever necessary, asa home for problem children.To prevent further harm being doneto the children. If small babies have tobe separated from their mothers we try tokeep them in comparative safety withineasy reach of their families. We provideevery facility for visiting so that the babycan develop an attachment for and knowledgeof its mother and be prepared fora later return to normal family life. Forthe older children we make the necessaryprovision for ordinary peace-time educationand, again, to try to preserve the12