A lot of children today are growing up in a violent world and parents are making no effort to keep their children's minds innocent. Their children are going to school and being disobedient, starting to swear at a young age and giving up on school. By protecting a child's innocence, the parents are helping their child to have a safer, more enjoyable childhood, and almost guaranteeing them a better life. These ideas are shown very well in For Andrew by Fleur Adcock.
A parent that is protecting their child's innocence is protecting their lifestyle. If their minds are kept clean during childhood, keeping them away from bad influences and teaching then about all the good things in life, they will be a lot better off. This is because they will keep out of trouble with people and/or drugs. Principles that they have as a child may also have an affect on the principles they have as an adult. For example: as a child they might learn that violence is never the answer and keep that in mind when they"re older. The parents could also keep their children away from drugs, as this could help the way they look at them when they"re older. It would make them grow up with a clean mind still working at its full potential, not disadvantaged. This is portrayed very well in For Andrew by Fleur Adcock. The child in the story asks if he will ever die, and the mother doesn't want to say yes, so the teaches him all the precautions he should take to keep himself safe. This is so he will grow up to be an adult with principles and rules to live by.
"To soften my yes I offer compensations.".
"That if you eat plenty of vegetables and are careful crossing the street, you will live forever." .
Protecting a child's innocence can also help them in school and in jobs. Their parents would teach them that they should have a lot of respect for their teachers and bosses. In school when they are asked to do something they would do it without a complaint or the need to ask why.
