A lot of things back then were very strange....I don't think it was done with any purpose other than it's what our own parents and grandparents learned....pre-therapy era

Grimms Fairy Tales...
Lost of nursery rhymes that come from WAAAYYY back when (there was usually a lesson in them) Ring around the Rosie was one...

Heck...even the Disney movie Dumbo...And the classic The Wizard of Oz...
what nightmares those caused!!