Page 74 - South Mississippi Living - April, 2017

KIDS all better
Mason Jackson and his blankey, Finger.
SECURITY BLANKETS PROVIDE COMFORT
story by Kelsey Sunderman-Foster photos courtesy of Lisa Jackson
Do you remember Linus, the lovable character from Charles Schulz’s Peanuts? In each comic, Linus could be seen with his trusty blanket in tow. That blanket was a sort of talisman for him, offering him the sense of security that he relied on throughout the day. In fact, being without his security blanket caused him to become uneasy and
even physically ill.
Though his reaction in the comic
is an exaggeration meant to provide comedic relief, Linus is actually a very relatable character for many. Looking back at our own childhoods, many of us may recall having our own comfort item: something that gave us strength through all of childhood’s scary situations.
According to the Psychology Today article “Security Blankets,” research by psychologist Richard H. Passman from the University of Wisconsin
at Milwaukee found that children who were strongly attached to their security blanket seemed to adjust better to an anxiety-producing situation. “For these children, the blanket promoted play, exploration and non-distress in their mothers’ absence,” Passman said in the article.
Dr. Donna Burrowes is a clinical psychologist with Bridgewater Psychiatry in Gulfport who specializes in children and adolescents. “I believe that having a comfort item can be
very helpful for children,” she said.
“Often times, these items are a way for them to regulate their emotions. Having a tactile item can not only be a comfort, but help them transition into independence later on.”
Though the age at which a child
may develop attachment to a comfort item varies, Burrowes said that
many children carry these items through their upper elementary years. “Children who are more prone to anxiety may take longer to transition, but this is perfectly normal,” she said.
Mason Jackson is a bright and charming six year old from Ocean Springs, who has two special companions, a bear named Teddy and his blanket, Finger. Though Teddy’s name speaks for itself, the origin of the name Finger is more in-depth.
“Where the maker folded the material to sew the seam, they left enough room so that Mason can fit his finger into the hole,” said Mason’s mother, Lisa Jackson. “When he was around the age of two, he would have his blanket with him at night, and
Mason Jackson with Teddy and his blankey, Finger.
when he closed his eyes to sleep he would place his pointer finger in the hole, lay his thumb on the outside and rub his fingers together until he quickly fell asleep.”
“There’s no way of explaining how this makes us as parents feel. Of course we do anything possible to assure our children they are loved and comforted, but there’s just something extra that Teddy and Finger offer him. They are his little supporters and in his sweet mind they play an important role of reminding him how truly loved he is.”
74 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • April 2017
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