Don't Be Afraid (1953)

[@vjdrive1230]

I always remember the number one rule: any body parts sticking out from the bed covers are just bait for monsters.

[@sodapop83]

i'm an adult and still thinking this. so ridiculous but damn i just don't want to risk a faint touch or a bite, you know... lol

[@poetcomic1]

Yeah, my dad taught me that.

[@mikezylstra7514]

I'm petrified of an electrical storm in the middle of the night. Rules are, don't move! or you'll get struck. Be under very thick covers or a quilt! Even if it's 80 degrees. If I think there's gonna be a storm I snap those venetian blinds tightly closed! But, when awake, I sit out on the porch in the most violent electrical storm sitting on my wrought iron glider - doesn't scare me a bit.

[@worldcatloversheavenwatcht2927]

Number two rule: sleep with a giant machete and grenade

[@jamescraig322]

No monster can get you if you're safe under the covers.

[@fleurdrose5504]

At school we had Guidance class once a week and all sorts of topics like this one were discussed. With hindsight they have proved valuable and stood the test of time and I have relayed them with my children and now my grand children. These Old TV Time lessons have been a good extra. My sincere thanks and appreciation for sharing these.

[@miriambucholtz9315]

It's good to talk over your fears with your parents, providing they don't mock you for them. The worst fear a child can have is the fear of losing control, which is understandable when you consider just how little control most kids have over their worlds to begin with.

[@lindathrall5133]

Miriam Bucholtz TRUE ENOUGH YOU ARE RIGHT ON THE MONEY

[@MicheleBohmke]

"It's good to talk over your fears with your parents, providing they don't mock you for them." I never shared such deep feels with my parents, mocking laughter and sarcastic ridicule would have been their responses. Ah, the wonders of childhood and feckless parents.

[@abbykoop5363]

These are so great. I wish my parents had watched stuff like this. Who knew that parents could be so understanding and actually talk to their kids instead of just ordering them around?

[@panheadbob2926]

Remember Kids, ... never put water on a grease fire.

[@rafaelzapata7121]

Saludos desde Bogotá Colombia. Me encantan estos contemidos de gran valor y crecimiento personal y social. Son actuales hoy, 2023 ya que la psquis y las necesidades humanas son relativamente estables en la contemporaneidad.

[@melodyofpsalm9468]

If someone you know of has drowned, that it's a justifiable reason to be afraid of water. It can be overcome, but water can be dangerous.

[@lindathrall5133]

As grownup I still don’t like the nighttime hours I have nightmares and night terrors I have PTSD TYPE TWO it scares me shitless to this day. That’s why I go to sleep in the early hours of morning so I can sleep without fear.

[@cici2562]

Same here! Has yours gotten better?

[@cybersee9966]

When I was a child I was never afraid to go to sleep, because I shared a room with 2 of my siblings. My mother was always threatening to leave us, and I was worried she would, but her mother lived with us so she had nowhere to go.

[@kakky5795]

I'm a 60 year old woman and I'm still afraid of the dark!

[@piccadilyroad66]

I had insomnia and sleep paralysis in dark room over 20 years since little kid. I afraid to talk with my family. Last 2 year I realised that I have been through many supranatural experiences for whole my life. I'm still using night lamp while I slept, now I feel better 😊

[@deniseherud]

Thanks lady, now I can sleep too….these videos are always so calming.

[@sharegreats2157]

What a nice mother and teachable son. Unfortunately this is not always given. But the film displays a good model about how mothers can teach their children, also fathers should take time and explain things to them. The quiet they radiate. Very agreeable to watch.

[@melodyofpsalm9468]

Often times people are fearful of something because of a bad experience from the past. It is still very real for the person, for instance, maybe that little girl or someone she knew had been bitten by a dog. In that case her fear is Justified. Some fears can be overcome, but others stay with us for good reason.

[@metsrus]

dam wish my parents had given me this talk

[@Patt12]

The women give that talk that she learned from her script

[@oliveb6318]

God bless Billy

[@thomaslucas6403]

This was 67 years ago Billy is in his 70s if he is still alive.

[@sophierobinson2738]

Kid's friend afraid of water? Mom says he shouldn't have been because it wouldn't hurt him. I guess she never heard of drowning.

[@wolfgangamadeusmozart4569]

Awesome.. my anxiety is cured thanks to this video

[@Mike-pj1kv]

"You'll be asleep before you know it" his mom says. What is the alternative? It's kind of hard to know you're asleep before it happens.

[@ohheyfullmetal]

*Someone’s always watching me, someone’s always there, in the corner of my room, and he stares...*

[@CEOkiller]

That’s the Government…

[@CletusHunnicutt]

I see pieces of old Nick at Night promos and commercial bumpers all over these old films.

[@sheriheffner2098]

Just buy him a night light. I was scared of the dark until I was ten years old.

[@akavitsuma]

I wish I had a nice mom like that.

[@gerrynightingale9045]

*How do you ignore your fear of your mother?* *And a step-father who considers you nothing more than 'baggage that came with the marriage'**How do you ignore feelings of being powerless and the endless rage of betrayal, so much so that your heart itself becomes an enemy never to be trusted?* *After 65-years, the little boy I once was is still there and unable to grow-up because he trusts nothing and no one*

[@RKusmie64]

:-(

[@pno2496]

Forget what they told you. You are amazing!

[@SMKification]

Gerry Nightingale I can relate. I hope there are future lives where things can be healed.

[@gerrynightingale9045]

*I have an utter terror that my 'existence of awareness' will never end...I cannot think of anything that would be worse than some form of 'life after physical death'**I want to be ERASED...not 'made better'*

[@SMKification]

Gerry Nightingale That’s horrendous. I don’t know what to say except to wish you the best somehow.

[@sheagaier7582]

good description of fear :)

[@lamonthamilton667]

Yes we could use more Truth.

[@pgh45rpms]

Billy doesn't know that the boogy-man underneath his bed only comes out at night.

[@Me-wk3ix]

5:12 It's Lassie!

[@oledocfarmer]

The kid was actually a damn good actor.

[@shadow_hillsgrandma8224]

Give these kids nite lites!

[@Zuzuyatts]

I wonder how they explained the fear of nuclear annihilation?

[@sheriheffner2098]

That bed looked like the one I slept on for ten years. The mattress was as old as I am and by the time they got another mattress the springs were sti king out the top of the mattress. They had to get a brand new car every few years but my bed was a thirty year old one that originally belonged to my grandmother.

[@Patt12]

Very sad you mattress story it not only you this women slept 40 years until she died on a spring stick out the mattress she had no money to buy new bed

[@Wolfietherrat]

Frank’s house is haunted. He has to decide if he will fall for the spirits.

[@ScreamingEagleFTW]

i dont know. just because a dog is friendly to one person doesnt mean it will be friendly to you.

[@joycekelley6362]

Children were not coddled as much in those days. Most children had a healthy fear of their parents because we realized if we did something wrong we would be spanked or likewise punished. We did not communicate with parents like kids today do. We did not admit our fears or worries. Most parents would shrug it off with, “Don’t be Silly”, or “Get to bed or I’ll give you something to be scared of.” We played away, out of the watchful eyes of our parents. Heck, my mom had no idea where I was most days as I roamed the neighborhood. We also realized if we misbehaved in school, the teacher would use a paddle in front of the whole class. Our biggest fear was she would call our parents. Our parents would punish us again when we got home. The teacher was greatly respected...so parents did not make excuses for our bad behavior. There was also a lot of child abuse that took place in homes. It was not unusual for children to be slapped, spanked too hard, hair pulled and many parents used belts, twigs from trees, kitchen utensils, etc. On a good note, classrooms were very orderly. Teachers had control of their classrooms and children learned. Children were quick to learn how to behave and actually thrived in a world they could explore and play freely. That generation grew up having no problem heading out into the world...ready to meet challenges with courage and the ability to manage their homes and lives. Most of us could not wait to get out on our own and take control of our own lives.

[@provost5752]

Yes, be afraid, be very afraid.

[@jamescraig322]

Growing up in the 1950s the adults around me gave plenty of good advice for staying safe. The great majority of it was helpful though I am still a bit skeptical about a school desk being able to protect someone from a nuclear bomb.

[@TJ-kk5zf]

I didn't know Lassie belonged to Mr. Rogers!

[@mchris65]

Billy reminds me of Barry Gordon

[@cici2562]

Billy reminds me of Tommy Kirk!

[@Skipper86]

This is irrational fear when someone gets scared of something that's not dangerous.

[@hippiefreak66]

That kid was afraid of his parents because he got bad grades? Well, this was the 50s, he probably got his ass whooped.

[@sheriheffner2098]

Sounds like my ideal childhood. I got my ass whipped with a belt by my bipolar father because I made bad grades in math, because I was supposed to have an adults thinking and reasoning like him. He talked down to me every day of my life and treated me like crap. My mother was no better she screamed, ranted, raved and hit me with switches, rulers, hairbrushes, paddles from a paddleball game with the vall ripped off, flyswatters. Then she loved pinching me with a twisting motion or clawing me in the arms and legs with her fingernails.

[@rochelleyanuzzi9729]

Aaannd we learn that their house is haunted and the demon is after little Billy.

[@oliveb6318]

You are sick.

[@Michelle77Va]

The mom looks familiar

[@poetcomic1]

She is obviously a good, serious actress slumming in school educationals.

[@christinab.2864]

Someone in the other comments thinks it’s mr. Rogers wife? It may just be her because it’s something that I would expect mr. Rogers to say.

[@heidifedor]

I slept with a nightlight until I was 18.

[@Saryu2007]

I am fear of my ex I am fear of going near to him I am so scared I don’t want to be around him anymore I am fear of dogs but still love animals

[@CurtHDavis]

Frank's parents keep a barrel of bourbon in their basement!

[@oledocfarmer]

Curt H. Davis I thought that was cocaine....no?

[@michaelshields7777]

What about fear of spiders? Seaweed? Karen's on the loose? hehehe!!!

[@Frenite]

Billy looks 12.5% Asian

[@alden5585]

I say 17.5%.

[@alden5585]

Billy is 11? Dont see missing teeth?

[@lazyhomebody1356]

Is Billy's mother secretly filming Frank's family?

[@lostlotta4352]

Mother,I'm neurotic.

[@maryvee61]

lostlotta Clonzapam is your friend.

[@rochelleyanuzzi9729]

Horraaay for Clonazepam!!

[@cate1657]

I can still remember some of these films being shown in elementary, middle and high school--they seemed to follow us through all the phases of growing up, as though we couldn't be left alone to our own experiences and figure things out for ourselves. After seeing some of these offerings, I can fully see why some of my "Baby Boom" generation tried to do things in our own way and flaunted authority. One thing I remember about these various films is the complete lack of African American, Native American or Latino people being featured. And the sex stereotypes: only white males were authorities, experts, in charge and respectable in their positions of power over women and anybody who wasn't white.

[@VideoSaySo]

I think they all overreacted just a wee bit much about that grease fire.

[@alden5585]

The mom talks a lot

[@CEOkiller]

Good thing Billy didn’t know about the Russians and their atomic weapons…

[@jb6712]

Unfortunately, fear is NOT "natural," or "normal," but I'm not going into the whys and wherefores of that.

[@jn1mrgn]

I've seen lots of these old films that were well done. The acting in this one is pretty terrible.

[@brianmcdonald9502]

Billy should be armed with a loaded shotgun when he goes to bed!🙄

[@mikezylstra7514]

Bring a lousy report card home in my house you'd get a beaten you'd never forget. That cocker spaniel puppy? sooo 1950!

[@depressedphilosopherbitch7581]

This makes me feel even more worried.

[@jacobeksor6088]

Some dog is danger I always afraid of dog.

[@Wolfietherrat]

Frank needs to grow a couple.

[@oliveb6318]

And you are a bully.

[@oaktree7441]

Claudette Gerety A couple of what, honey? Balls? The weakest part of the body🤣.