Worries of Parents and Their Children

Parents' major concerns were bicycle and car accidents, head injuries, abduction, exposure to environmental poisons, appropriate discipline, values and morals, affection, finances, too much television, and eating properly. Schoolchildren's concerns differed from their parents' and, for boys, included having to eat food they did not like, finances, people telling lies about them, and other issues about failure and criticism. Girls were more concerned about such dangers as abduction, burglars, strange people following them, and death. Major concerns shared by both sexes were looking foolish, people telling lies about them, being in a big crowd, and failing tests. Parents have many often unfounded or exaggerated fears about their children that are fanned by news media. This has led to the speculation that parents' insecurity about raising children has made them less effective. Continued reassurances by health professionals are needed to help parents believe more in themselves and become more secure in bringing up their children.