def clear_children(parent_to_parse, element_path=None):
    """
    Clears only children (not text or attributes) from the parsed parent
    or named element.
    """

    element = get_element(parent_to_parse, element_path)

    if element is None:
        return parent_to_parse
    else:
        elem_txt = element.text
        elem_atr = element.attrib

        element.clear()

        element.text = elem_txt
        element.attrib = elem_atr

    return element