Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires

By Daniel W. Trathen, D. Min. Ph. D.

Prevention is an interesting word and concept. The word is similar to "anticipation" in that it refers to being in a state of readiness or to be alert and ready for what may come next. Other synonyms are: "hinder, avert, ward off, deter, discourage, prohibit, and to frustrate." There were several prevention heroes marketed by product companies. One was "Mr. Tooth Decay" whose message was to brush your teeth several times a day to prevent cavities. Then another dental prevention action figure was "Buckie Beaver" who was the spokes-animal for Ipana toothpaste. The jingle went something like, "brusha, brusha, brusha, get the new Ipana." To help prevent and clean up the nations highways and rivers, the government invented "Woodsie the Owl" whose motto was, "give a hoot, don't pollute." Then there was the silent Indian in a canoe with a tear in his eye over the polluted state of our country's waterways. Probably the most famous prevention hero has been around for over 50 years. He is known and loved by many as "Smoky the Bear". His picture is posted throughout our national parks and forests and he visits elementary schools during fire prevention month accompanied by his famous warning - "Remember, only you can prevent forest fires." These mottoes are catchy and they seek to format our brains to deter and avert problems by stopping and thinking about our actions before we litter or throw a lit cigarette butt out of our car or truck window. Prevention is important, but it is not a highly practiced value. It is talked about far more than it is done.

In a similar way, many of us may remember our grandparents telling us as children, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Such proverbial wisdom has its place when discussing stress reactions in children. Children are affected by the variety of pressures on the home such as frequent moves from one community to the next, living far away from grandparents and other relatives, distressed marriages, domestic violence, and divorce. Physical illness can bring the trauma of hospitalization when separated from family and friends. Without question, the death of a parent or sibling brings the most severe stress upon children. There can be many other regular causes of childhood stress such as family unemployment, poverty, excessive emphasis on competition in sports and school grades, step-parents, and peer pressure. All of these and more need "an ounce of prevention."

What does this ounce of prevention look like? There are no quick answers to helping children cope with these pressures, but a caring, informed adult can go a long way in preventing a "forest fire" in a child's life. Prevention involves providing a child with adequate structure and emotional support. Structure involves rules and limits. Even though parents often may hear otherwise, children find safety in fair rules that are consistently applied. Fair rules act as safety nets, something that remains the same, when the turmoil of life hits. Emotional support includes love, acceptance, patience, and affection. How many of us have experienced or heard of children and adolescents who did not get along with their parents, but felt unconditionally accepted by their grandparents, a coach, or another meaningful person. Prevention is a child knowing that they are always accepted by a significant adult; someone who really cares about them even when their behavior is hard to swallow. There is a very important life lesson here. Prevention is understanding a child from his/her point of view. It is taking the time to meaningfully listen to their opinion and seek to understand their thoughts and feelings without trying to lecture, argue, or fix the problem. Many disputes are diffused and solved through listening, understanding as well as clear and honest communication. Children are often resilient in coping with stress. They adjust better to painful news clearly discussed rather than the anxiety caused by the fear of the unknown.

Stress prevention needs to be a process modeled early in a child's life. We can either fan the flames or go around putting out fires for our children. Better still, we can empower our children through allowing them to make decisions that will help quench the flames of stress in their lives. "Smoky the Bear" may be right in more ways than one. Early life lessons are imprinted when we are young. I brush my teeth everyday, I don't litter, and I'm extra careful with campfires.

Some of my earliest heroes were people who were patient and caring no matter what I did. They were consistent with fair rules and they listened and made me feel accepted. I listened to them because I respected them. They valued and practiced an "ounce of prevention."