Freud_Burlingham_1943_War_and_Children_k_text

ustness of children, on the other hand formost of the problems of behaviour and symptomsabout which all the war nurseriescomplain.Outlet inSpeechWhenever, during the time of 'blitz', motherscame to the Children's Centre after a badnight's bombing, the best we could do for themwould be to provide an interested audience fortheir tales. The kitchen in Wedderburn Roadwould reverberate with descriptions of neighborswho had been killed, possessions whichhad been destroyed, and miraculous rescuesfrom burning shelters. We would even riskthe children hearing more of the events thanwas strictly necessary rather than cut shortmothers when they unloaded their minds ofthese horrors. If they repeated the descriptionoften enough their excitement would subsidevisibly.This most valuable outlet into speech andconscious thought which acts as a drainage foranxiety and emotion is denied to young children.It is possible that they would use thismethod at earlier ages when with theirmothers. Under the conditions of nursery lifethe children do not talk about their frighteningexperiences immediately after they have happened.Among all those 'received at Wedder-65