how about a helper function for this and above?  something like:

```python
xpaths = [c.get_abbreviated_xpath() for c in child.children]
select_multiples = assign_children(select_multiples, current_section_name, child, xpaths)

gps_fields = assign_children(gps_fields, current_section_name, child, xpaths)

def __assign_children(fields, current_section_name, child, xpaths):
    if current_section_name not in fields:
        fields[current_section_name] = {}
    fields[current_section_name][child.get_abbreviated_xpath] = xpaths
    
    return fields